ENS Event | |
|---|---|
16:30 Jun 23, 2020 | |
| Title | Leaking Source from Aircraft Radium Dial |
| Event Description | The following summary of information was received via email:
On June 23, 2020 at approximately 1130 [CDT], the Permit Radiation Safety Officer (PRSO) was working on a J-79 engine and proceeded to survey his work area. During the survey, he found measurements indicating contamination on a nearby table that contained an instrument dial. He did a direct measurement of the Oxygen Pressure Indicator dial, which is approximately 2 inches in diameter and found approximately 7000 Counts Per Minute (CPM) direct reading. The PRSO surveyed the covering over the table on which the dial was on and found approximately 100 CPM with the Ludlum 44-9 pancake style Geiger Muller (GM) probe. The area of the contamination he found was about the size of the probe area. Surveys of the cockpit and surrounding areas were all less than 20 disintegrations per minute (dpm)/100 square centimeter loose and 100 dpm/100 square cm total for Radium-226 in accordance with the Acceptable Surface Contamination Levels. The dial was removed from a restored aircraft in a publicly accessible part of the museum. The aircraft was originally surveyed in 1989 and the presence of the radium dial was not detected. Therefore, no radiological controls were implemented to prevent any possible public exposure. The quantity of Radium-226 was estimated at 2 microCuries for the dial. The dial was turned into the Air Force Radioactive Recycling and Disposal center for disposal. The contaminated portion of the table was cut out and disposed of. The open cockpit was surveyed to verify no presence of Radium-226. Any cleaning equipment for the cockpit and surrounding area of the aircraft were controlled and moved to a radioactive storage area. The licensee contacted Region IV. |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| Usaf Wright Patterson Afb, Ohio (NRC Region 3) | |
| License number: | 42-23539-01AF |
| Organization: | Usaf |
| Reporting | |
| 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2), Licensed Material Protection Equipment Failure | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+1142.67 h47.611 days <br />6.802 weeks <br />1.565 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Ramachandra K Bhat 07:10 Aug 10, 2020 |
| NRC Officer: | Brian Lin |
| Last Updated: | Aug 10, 2020 |
| 54825 - NRC Website | |
Usaf with 10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 548252020-06-23T16:30:00023 June 2020 16:30:00
[Table view]10 CFR 30.50(b)(2) Leaking Source from Aircraft Radium Dial 2020-06-23T16:30:00 | |