Show 7A Thursday March Standard-Examin- er 1 7 1983 ’ fire cause Probe ‘never citizen doubted Probing FromlA By SCOTT BONTZ Stanaft) xamner staff When Patricia Axelrod heard Air Force investigators had determined a deadly Dec 29 rocket motor fire at Morton Thiokol was likely caused by discharge of static electricity she was not surprised “I never even doubted it she said from her home in Washington DG She will add the incident to an arsenal of evidence with which she hopes to force the federal government to prevent acciden- I i J r? - y rr - V i I O I elec- tricity and electrical radiation like radio waves The ceramic tile designer has spent three years investigating what the Navy calls HERO for Hazard of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance She left her home in Key West Fla to pursue her research in the nation’s capital “It’s been three years of spending every dime I’ve got and every spare hour" Axelrod said She started asking questions about HERO when it was mentioned with the reactivation of a 1' in die accident-pron- e Blackhawk helicopter and trigger small explosive devices controlling the functions of conventional and nuclear weapons Axelrod said the Navy suspects that may have occurred in the Vietnam War when a conventional warhead caused a fire that killed more than 100 men on an aircraft carrier - tal activation and override of military weapons by static target of an investigation by Navy intelligence Now with the Justice Department trying to block introduction of her evidence in federal court Axelrod is leading a suit to force the government to conduct an- environmental impact hearing She hopes a hearing will make the public aware of HERO and force the military and its contractors to immunize susceptible weapons “I believe that the only way to solve the problem is to turn the public spotlight to it she said “I hope the judge doesn’t need a pile of corpses at his feet to do something about it Axelrod said the Thiokol fire was among the latest of about 60 military incidents she suspects had forms of electromagnetic radiation as their causes She said accidents have been caused not only by electrostatic discharge but by electromagnetic waves such as those from ra- Patricia Axelrod Navy base near her home “As I got more doors slammed in my face Axelrod said “I just became more and more concerned about it Although she said her probing and accumulation of more than 500 documents has been above board — even sanctioned by the government’s General Accounting Office — it was deep enough at one point to make her the dios and high-volta- Air power ge Force investigators Wednesday told Rep Wayne Owens a Democrat from Utah’s 2nd Congressional District that ignition of an MX missile motor at Thiokol was caused by electrostatic discharge or friction heat from grit on the rocket Axelrod ruled out the latter explanation for the fire that killed five workers Axelrod said she assumed the cause the day after the fire “I knew immediately it was electrostatic discharge she said “The action was too similar” Axelrod referred to a 1985 fire in West Germany involving a Hercules-bui- lt stage of the Army’s Pershing II missile Three soldiers were killed The Army concluded the mo lines She said the waves can cause sophisticated electronic controls to malfunction as is suspected tor built a charge during transportation and caught fire when the electricity sparked through the rocket propellant The Pershing II and first stage of the MX for which Thiokol is the sole contractor share the shells and same plastic-and-fib- er have similar aluminum-base- d solid fuels Axelrod said the military has never fully addressed the hazard of electromagnetic radiation which arose during World War II with the creation of weapons controlled electronically rather than mechanically “Why haven’t they done it? she said “I would say a policy of acceptable risk I would say production before safety I’m saying they created a monster Axelrod said she intends to travel to Utah and testify if Morton Thiokol challenges state citations alleging safety violations by claiming the five workers killed in the fire ignored company regulations “That’s just a complete outrage she said “I can’t believe these men would commit suicide" :v to manually or automatically readjust a hydraulic puller that lifts a mold from inside the MX Thiokol missile motor Russell said “We feel Thiokol should have “will-Jfhad barricades and shields so serious" violations two were workers could do inspections of “serious" and one was unrelated the motor from behind shields or to the fire the UOSH report remotely with cameras or by reJ'‘ states mote control" McVey said ‘ One of the willful serious vio- “These are procedures we feel lations occured because the com- should have been followed to pany allegedly did not include workers out of the building “ 'procedures to minimize time keep as much as possible” workers spent inside buildings These steps would protect emwhere the motors are located ployees while they adjust a hy££ Thiokol contests state draulic puller that lifts cores or concerning whether molds from inside missile mo r From 1A State standards Three were ul t recom-mendatio- y ns mission to go to the site and let them establish what the facts Troops r-- are” “They can go and see for them- jFromlA selves” he said “Don’t take our Jhut word for it” From Capitol Hill Sen John said “I think it’s Kerry an overreacton I think the notion that there’s a real invasion is Gen Carl Stiner J'Maj just ridiculous “I think it’s a move the presiAccompanying the men was a pj5ant C--5 transport loaded with dent may come to regret because t'hree light observation helico- the spectacle of American troops moving into Central America in pters four Cobra helicopter one Blackhawk helicopter convoy flying down there I think is going to remind the cjjit command vehicle and ammuAmerican people of why they nition Foreign Ministry don’t want this” he said on the pL NicaraguanAlejandro -Bendana NBC-T“Today" program spokesman from Managua on “It’s an overreaction” said NBC-T“Today" show said Senate Majority Leader Robert earlier “The Nicaraguan forces battling the Byrd have crossed over the Contras had reached border before and gone back” Jthe border with Honduras Some members of Congress “There’s been a crossfire and there’s been fighting alongside the noted that the deployment came C border” he said adding that “the as the administration was making “Operations have successfully been a renewed push for new aid for 'concluded and we don’t plan to the Contras But Rep Lee Hamilton in the border region" interviewed on “CBS This Bendana said Nicaragua would area to the in later reporters Morning” said he doubts the Cthe day In addition he said events would change lawmakers’ called for an OAS-Upositions about 800 would parachute 'into Honduran territory about 5 miles away and then move Palmerola said the of the 82nd Airborne H to-£w- ss com-Sand- er - gun-Kshi- ps V the V San-dinist- as D-W- --XUS-backed D-I- nd N tors he said Liquid fuel is poured into the motor and hardens to the consistency of a pencil eraser building and automatically set the puller in motion again Workers return to the assembly building a second time to adjust the puller After again using remote controls Cores mold the propellant’s to raise the core some more they configura-tio- n cavity into a The shape determines thrust return a final time to use a crane and burning characteristics of the to raise it the rest of the way he said motor The pouring curing and pullA hydraulic puller lifts the process takes about three ing core a few inches out of the days McVey said motor Workers then stop the “We felt there were better ways puller by remote control and then other than going up and looking enter the building to adjust it by the core" he said at right is able to continue hand so it said core the “The whole McVey raising (procedure) needs to absolutely Employees then leave the to be reworked fin-li- ke 20-fo- ot Run Wilson who will run for the gubernatorial seat on the Democratic ticket said today he will not From 1A change his campaign strategy “I can understand Gov Bangertions and I guess our coalition is ter’s disappointment” said Wilover” Huntsman contributed $5000 son “From his perspective I can see it as a very opportune move to the Bangerter campaign in January promised another $5000 by Jon Huntsman against him It’s very strange" and was offered a position of fiWilson predicted that the two nance chairman in the campaign will fight it out in a Sen Jake Garn Republicans Republican who was named Bangerter’s camprimary but said it is too early to assess how that will affect the paign chairman last fall said tohe learned of general election day only “But there’s got to be bodies all Huntsman’s challenge Wednesday over the street in the Republican night and was surprised Party today" Wilson said in a “(Gam) and Jon are very close friends” aide a Gam telephone interview personal Wilson a former Salt Lake City said Garn said he will remain Banmayor who is now director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics at gerter’s campaign chairman Huntsman is chairman of the the University of Utah will offiboard of Huntsman Chemical cially announce his candidacy next Wednesday in Ogden Corp and served as a special as“I don’t think I’m going to sistant to former President Richard Nixon from 1971 to 1972 change one thing” Wilson said He last made headlines when “I’m going to be talking about education and job formation I have son was kidhis a proven record and I think I for million ransom $1 on napped Dec 9 The boy was rescued have something the other two without harm the next day by candidates don’t have” FBI agents and two Moody the state GOP chairsaid the intra-part- y man school were students fight high will result in one of two things in weather outlook r Today’s p I ' - 2- — Utah Mostly sunny Friday and clear tonight A warming trend Is expected with highs in the 50s to low 60s on Friday Lows tonight in the teens and 20s Salt Lake City Ogden and Provo — Clear tonight Lows in the mid 20s Friday sunny and warmer Highs S Southeast Idaho Patchy night and morning valley fog otherwise sunny Friday Fair tonight Highs upper 40s to mid 50s on Friday Lows tonight in the - 4 V V L-- Regional forecast 5: K fr rr r - teens Extended forecast Utah — For the period Saturday through Monday fair Saturday becoming partly cloudy Sunday and Monday Highs mostly 50s north and 50s to mid 60s south Lows upper 20s and 30s Southern Idaho — Fair Saturday Increasing clouds Sunday Widely scattered showers Monday Highs 50s east and 60s west cooling into the mid 40s to mid 50s Monday Lows 30s west Teens and 20s east moderating mostly Into the 30s east on Mon- k-J day rv Bountiful (residential) Ogden (residential) Ogden (downtown) Salt Lake City (downtown) Provo (downtown) (Levels of 0 to 100 are to excellent) Air pollution index Carbon monoxide levels: fc nrv rv rv fv r rrv - fc’ V consl-deredgo- od Regional temps city k- 40 6 25 49 27 Logan Ogden Pocatello Provo Salt Lake St George Vernal Wendover we’re right” The UOSH report also said another serious willful violation was that workers apparently failed to test equipment to ensure static electricity wasn’t building up A Air Force report cites discharge of static electricity or friction heat from grit as possible causes of the fire just-releas- ed the general election “We will emerge with the strongest possible candidate and the Democrats will be polarized or we will come out divided and the Democrats will walk in" Eithier way Moody said Huntsman’s candidacy places a lid on the state GOP money chest for now since the party must remain neutral until its nominee has been decided “It’s an open forum and anybody has the right to run” Moody said Moody said he heard within the business community about a week ago that Huntsman may enter the race “but frankly I’m surprised that it materialized as fast as it did” He said Huntsman called him Wednesday night and apologized for not informing the party earlier that he was a candidate Huntsman 50 said he is concerned about the state’s drifting economy but promised not to attack Bangerter or his record Bangerter has been smarting in the polls because of last year’s record $166 million tax hike and for pushing through a $60 million pumping project to lower on the Great Salt Lake flood-wate- rs 24 25 37 19 25 static-fighti- ng - 1 Postmaster Send address corrections to Standard Exammer (USPS 403-84PO Box 951 Ogden UT 84402 Second class postage paid at Ogden Utah Circulation Albany NY Albuquerque Amarillo Anchorage To subscribe: Call the circulation department at one Of the numbers below weekdays 8 am-- 5 pm Weber & North Davis counties 1 South Davie Box Elder A Morgan Delivery problems: Call before 7:30 p m weekdays a SaurdaVs a"d After those times please leave a recorded Sundays message Carrier delivery rates: Dally & Sunday $725month or $87year Mail delivery rates: Dally & Sunday $850month or $102year Sunday only $500month or 399-961- Asheville Atlanta Atlantic City Austin Baltimore Lot Angeles 1 75 Billings Birmingham Bismarck Boise Pacific Ocean Boston Brownsville ©1988 Vt Houston Indianapolis misaligned motor case generating enough friction and heat to ignite the fuel Kingdom said he did not know where in the motor the fire started Thiokol is the sole contractor for the Air Force to build the first stage of the MX a missile designed to carry 10 nuclear warheads No radioactive material was involved in the December fire Production has been stopped since the fire Thiokol spokesman Rocky Raab said In the May incident Kingdom said the investigators told him workers building an MX saw a flash and heard loud noises before evacuating the building He said as a result of the burning Thiokol and the Air Force decided to take safety steps that included removal of workers to a remote control building and the humidiaddition of fiers and ionizers On the morning of Dec 29 Kingdom said three workers in the remote control room pulled an internal mold which leaves a hollow space for later insertion of the rocket’s igniter about a foot out of the cured propellant Then they waited for a foreman and supervisor to complete the job “In violation of the procedures they all went out to this building” Kingdom said “And in violation of the procedures by Morton Thiokol they began to use the manual controls” He said investigators suggested the workers may have gone to the building to show a new supervisor Kingdom said the supervisor Richard Goodsell and the foreman Lawrence Rothenberger were leaning over the rocket when it ignited They and operators Michael Smith and Del Loosli were killed instantly Jeffery Ellis was shielded by a door but was burned over 95 percent of his body Kingdom said investigators were able to talk to Ellis about the accident before he died al- -i most 1 hours later He also said investigators talked to other MX crews and found it was common practice for them to start pulling the internal form from the cured fuel — the most delicate part of removal — with remote controls but then to move into the building to finish Kingdom said investigators discovered workers were confused by a complicated manual explaining removal procedures “They indicated it was hard to follow because it was hard to understand” he said Gene Glasmann Hatch — President L Johnson — General Manager Randall C Hatch — Managing Editor Flora Ogan — Associate Editor Pub'ished daily and Sunday by the Standard Corp 455 23rd St Ogden Utah 84402 Copyright © 1987 City Casper Charleston SC Charleston WVa Charlotte NC Cheyenne Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Columbia SC ColumbusOhlo Concord NH Dallas-F- I Worth Davlon Denver Des Moines Detroit Duluth El Paso Evansville Fairbanks Fargo Flagstaff Grand Raolds Great Falls Greensboro NC Hartford Helena rubbed accumulated grit on a William National temps Buffalo Burlington d Standard-Examine- r Western states Temperatures Indicate previous day's high and overnight low to 8 am EST Honolulu i 45 44 58 34 47 minimize any personnel exposure We said this was a violation of UOSH standards but Thiokol had not written this into their procedures This is one of the areas they’re (Thiokol) most concerned about They don’t feel likely source of the electrostatic Teflon-coateglass charge was a lid placed over the upper end of the rocket motor during removal of the internal mold The lid was supposed to be grounded and was not Kingdom said He said glass can store a static charge and is a poor electrical conductor The lid may have been involved in what the Air Force said is the other possible cause of the fire Kingdom said The investigators said the lid could have $60year Display ads Inc Accu-Weath- er Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 After 5 pm or Saturdays 9 am to pm noon Dispatch department Classified ads Call National forecast weekdays 8 am to 8 or 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