Part 21 Report - 1997-061

 
 

ACCESSION #: 9701290314



LIMITORQUE

Corporation



January 23, 1997



U. S.  Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, DC 20555



ATTENTION:     Document Control Desk



SUBJECT:       Potential 10 CFR 21 Condition - Counterfeit Component



Please be advised that Limitorque has discovered the existence of a

counterfeit component installed in a Limitorque actuator at a nuclear

power plant.  This component is classified as "critical" by Limitorque

Corporation.



The subject component had failed which resulted in actuator

inoperability.  The component was sent by the nuclear utility to

Limitorque for root cause failure analysis.  This analysis revealed that

the failed component was not manufactured by Limitorque and was deficient

in several critical required attributes.



It should be noted that this component was not installed in an actuator

required to perform a safety related function.  This component was

apparently purchased from the "surplus" resale market.



This advisory does not follow the normal 10 CFR 21 formatting and is

intended to act as a vehicle to alert the appropriate organizations to

this potential significant Safety issue.  Licensee procurement, material

control, etc.  procedures should be reviewed to ensure adequate controls

are in place to prevent a similar occurrence.



Limitorque Corporation P. O. Box 11318 5114 Woodall Road Lynchburg, VA

24506-1318 Tel.  (804) 528-4400 FAX (804) 845-9736



Page 2

January 23, 1997

Counterfeit Limitorque Actuator Component



Any questions on clarifications regarding this notification may be

directed Mr. P.  McQuillan, Nuclear/Special Projects Manager at (804)

528-4400 Ext 9714, or fax (804) 845-9736.



Charles L.  Hylton

Vice-President of Engineering



CLH/lab



cc:  Part 21 File - Evaluation #57



GENERAL INFORMATION or OTHER                 EVENT NUMBER: 31665



LICENSEE: LIMITORQUE CORPORATION        NOTIFICATION DATE:  01/27/97

    CITY: LYNCHBURG      REGION: 2      NOTIFICATION TIME:  09:35 [ET]

  COUNTY:                STATE: VA      EVENT DATE:         01/27/97

LICENSE#:            AGREEMENT: N       EVENT TIME:         00:00[EST]

DOCKET:                                 LAST UPDATE DATE:   01/27/97



                                                  NOTIFICATIONS



NRC NOTIFIED BY: HYLTON                 VERN HODGE          NRR

HQ OPS OFFICER: CHAUNCEY GOULD



EMERGENCY CLASS: NOT APPLICABLE

10 CFR SECTION:

NINF                     INFORMATION ONLY



                               EVENT TEXT



LIMITORQUE, HAS DISCOVERED THE EXISTENCE OF A COUNTERFEIT

COMPONENT

INSTALLED IN A LIMITORQUE ACTUATOR AT A A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.



THE COMPONENT WHICH WAS INSTALLED IS CONSIDERED "CRITICAL" BY

LIMITORQUE

CORPORATION.  THE SUBJECT COMPONENT, WHICH FAILED, WAS SENT TO

LIMITORQUE

FOR ROOT CAUSE FAILURE ANALYSIS.  THE ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT THE

FAILED

COMPONENT WAS NOT MANUFACTURED BY LIMITORQUE AND WAS DEFICIENT. 

IT

SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THIS COMPONENT WAS NOT INSTALLED IN AN

ACTUATOR

REQUIRED TO PERFORM A SAFETY RELATED FUNCTION.  THE COMPONENT WAS

APPARENTLY PURCHASED FROM THE "SURPLUS" RESALE MARKET.



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