ENS 43468
ENS Event | |
|---|---|
04:00 Jun 26, 2007 | |
| Title | Damaged Campbell Pacific Moisture Density Gauge |
| Event Description | On June 26, 2007, the 62nd Engineering Unit, located in Ft. Hood, Texas and recently returned from deployment, sent an email to the US Army TACOM LCMC, located in Warren , MI regarding a damaged Campbell Pacific (CPN) MC-1 moisture density gauge, serial number: M7112095. The device contains a 10 millicurie Cs-137 source and a 50 millicurie Am-241:Be source (1977 activity strength). The email requested guidance on the failure of the device handled assembly to lock in 'safe' or any other position. The lead trap door is disconnected from pushrod and fails to allow source rod to extend. The unit is on recuperative leave and the US Army will follow up with the unit personnel later this week. The US Army will continue to investigate to determine the status of the device, where and when it was damaged, and the status of the sources and the device's storage location.
The tester was used in Iraq and was shipped back to the unit in Texas in Dec 06. In Iraq, the tester had some difficulty with the lead trap door not easily sliding out of the way, when the rod was pushed down, but it did function. The rod locking mechanism worked in Iraq. On 18 Jun, the Local Radiation Safety Officer (LRSO) with the 62nd Engr Bn was notified verbally of a display problem involving the tester. A trained operator made the notification. On 26 June, the LRSO and Alternate LRSO both trained operators then decided to check out the tester. They cranked down on the display screw and the tester display functioned. They then decided to check the tester out further and discovered that the handle wouldn't lock in the safe and other positions. They compared this to another tester and then determined that the tester had a problem needing maintenance. The LRSO then sent an e-mail on 26 June asking for maintenance or turn-in instructions. The maintenance check (which includes ensuring proper function of the tester, the rod moving freely through the ranges and cleaning the tester of any dust and dirt) at the unit was the first, since its arrival from IRAQ. The unit planned to use the tester, but after discovering the problem with it, they then used another tester. The testers at the unit have maintenance done every six months depending on the use of the equipment. The rod with the source is inside of the tester housing. The tester is stored like normal in its transport case. The shutter is in place and closed. The lead trap door is in place. The lead trap door just doesn't slide out of the way when the source rod is lowered, thus it is preventing the source from being exposed or from coming out of the tester. The rod when operated will move through different positions, but will not lock at those positions (i.e. safe, 6 inch, 8 inch and 12 inch). This is due to a pin engaging defect. The rod will fully retract. If the tester probe is locked, then the rod will not move through the positions. There are no known personnel exposures. The tester is in a double locked room and the tester is in a locked DOT 7A container inside of a locked greenlee box. The only personnel having access to the keys and the testers are the LRSO and Alternate LRSO. This ensures that the tester is not used. Licensee is awaiting the results of a radiation survey of the storage area to be performed today (the last one performed was in April) and results from a leak test, which was performed on 27 June 07. The radiation survey was requested as a result of the tester failure and the leak test was performed, because it is the annual leak test period for the testers. The leak test was sent to our Army lab in Redstone, AL. Licensee has placed a call to expedite the analysis of the leak test and to check if they have received it. It is planned to transport the tester back to the manufacturer for disposition. Notified R3DO ( R. Lanksbury) and FSME EO (M. Burgess) |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Us Army Warren, Michigan (NRC Region 3) | |
| License number: | 21-01222-05 |
| Organization: | Us Army |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2), Licensed Material Protection Equipment Failure | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+157.05 h6.544 days <br />0.935 weeks <br />0.215 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Karen Mcguire 17:03 Jul 2, 2007 |
| NRC Officer: | Jeff Rotton |
| Last Updated: | Jul 3, 2007 |
| 43468 - NRC Website | |
Us Army with 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 456672010-01-27T05:00:00027 January 2010 05:00:00
[Table view]10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Mositure Density Gauge Received with Inoperable Locking Mechanism ENS 453602009-09-16T07:00:00016 September 2009 07:00:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Four Defective Moisture Density Gauges ENS 435242007-07-24T04:00:00024 July 2007 04:00:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Failed Source Shield Lock on Moisture Density Gauge ENS 434682007-06-26T04:00:00026 June 2007 04:00:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Damaged Campbell Pacific Moisture Density Gauge ENS 423362006-02-10T06:00:00010 February 2006 06:00:00 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Potentially Defective Moisture Density Gauge Locking Mechanism 2010-01-27T05:00:00 | |