ML20057A798

PNO-1-93-051:on 930909,fuel Assembly Lowered & Impacted on Blade Guide Inserted at Middle of Reactor Core.Caused by Operator Error.Fuel Lifted & Transported to Sipping Area of Fuel Pool.Area States Notified

ML20057A798
Person / Time
Site:	Vermont Yankee
Issue date:	09/09/1993
From:	Kelly G NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
To:
References
PNO-I-93-051, PNO-I-93-51, NUDOCS 9309150332
Download: ML20057A798 (2)

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, DCS No: 50271930909 Date: September 9,1993 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PN1-9351 I This preliminary notiGcation constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The infonnation is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically  ;

all that is known by the Region I staff on this date.

Facility: Licensee Emergency Classification:

Vennont Yankee Nuclear Notification of Unusual Event Power Corpomtion Alen Vernon, Vennont Site Area Emergency General Emergency X Not Applicable Docket No. 50-271 License No. DRP-28 Event No. N/A Esent Location Code: POW

Subject:

FUEL HANDLING ERROR On September 9,1993, at approximately 4:10 a.m. during refueling activities, a fuel assembly was inadvenently lowered and impacted upon a blade guide insened at the middle of the reactor core. The apparent cause was operator error, in that the fuel assembly had just been removed from the core and was intended to be moved upwards and then transferred to the spent fuel pool for fuel sipping (a process used to identify the presence of possible leaking fuel) operations. The operator had been verbally directed to raise the bundle and transfer it to the sipping area by the senior licensed memtor supervising bridge activities. However, the grapple contro! " joy stick" was inadvenently moved a the wrong direction.

The licensee suspended fuel movement, and is in the pmcess of investigating the event. The fuel assembly was subsequently lifted and transponed successfully to the sipping area of the spent fuel pool.

Preliminary visual inspections indicate that the bale handle was slightly bent but no other obvious damage to the fuel assembly or channel was evident. The blade guide (temporarily inserted in the reactor core for nonnal control rod blade suppon) is being visually examined by underwater camem for possible damage. This human error is the second event within a week involving fuel handling (see PNI-9349 dated September 3,1993). Fuel movement had been suspended for four days since September 3rd in response to an earlier dropped fuel assembly. Refueling had been resumed on September 7th at 2:25 p.m. and 157 successful moves had been made prior to the most recent error.

Two resident inspectors and a regional project engineer are onsite and following up the event. An Augmented Inspection Te:un consisting of five persons, including an NRR human factors specialist and a regional opemtor licensing examiner, is being dispatched to the site.

The States of Vennont, New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have beca notified.

The licensee is considering a press release and the Region I Public Affairs is prepared to respond to media inquiries. This notiGeation is current as of 12:15 p.m. on September 9,1993.

CONTACT: Gene Kelly (215) 337-5183 i

9-9309150332 930909 PDR IEE b '

PNO-I-93-OSI PDR Q ~)f 7

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1 DCS No: 50271930909 l

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Date: September 9,1993 l l

PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PN1-9351 l l

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DISTRIBUTION:

OWFN MNBB L-St. NL Mail: ADM DMB Chainnan Selin AEOD PDR RES DOT:Trans only**

Comm. Rogers IRM Comm. Remick OIG NRC Ops Ctr Comm. de Planque

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2 OIP NSAC** C ] [On .

Phillips OCA EDO ACRS OGC NMSS OPA NRR** (Phone Verif: A. Byrdsong 964-1168 or 964-1166)

OE l* p OSP Regional Offices RI Resident Office /, I}/ '

EWW OIG Licensee:

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/ $ /4' (Reactor Licensees) mm ,1 i,a i.., .uint m, i,3 r u Region I Fonn 83 (Rev. August 1993) l l

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