Contamination due to damaged ice detection probe

[sandy_perle@email.fpl.com]

This might be of general interest:

Sandy Perle
Supervisor Health Physics
Florida Power and Light Company
Nuclear Division

(407) 694-4219 Office
(407) 694-3706 Fax

sandy_perle@email.fpl.com

HomePage: http://www.lookup.com/homepages/54398/home.html
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Licensee/Facility:                     Notification:

Non-Licensee                           MR Number: 3-96-0033
Willow Run Airport/Plane Crash         Date: 03/21/96
Ypsilanti,Michigan                     MICHIGAN RADIATION HEALTH (CONT)...
License No: NONE         

Subject: CONTAMINATION DUE TO DAMAGED ICE DETECTION PROBE-UPDATE         
         .....NOTIFIED NRC ON 03-21-96 BY TELEPHONE.                     


Discussion:

On March 17, 1996, a Russian-designed Albatross L-39C aircraft landed at 
the Willow Run airport with its wheels up due to pilot error. During the 
landing, an ice detection device containing a radiation source in an ice 
detection probe in the nose of the aircraft was damaged, contaminating   
parts of the runway and the aircraft. Based on contacts between NRC      
International Programs and the Russian government, the material was      
determined to be Strontium-90 and Yttrium-90, in a quantity of about 4-5 
microcuries. The contamination on the runway is limited to an area       
approximately 30 centimeters wide and 3 meters long, with several hot    
spots ranging from 4,000 dpm per 100 square centimeters to 24,000 dpm per
100 square centimeters. One additional area was also found on the runway 
containing about 24,000 dpm in a hot spot that was probably less than 10 
square centimeters. The aircraft has several areas of contamination,     
ranging up to 80,000 dpm per 100 square centimeters. The highest area was
decontaminated to under 600 dpm per 100 square centimeters. The aircraft 
was manufactured by Aero Vodochody in the Chech Republic, and imported   
into the United States from a state of the former Soviet Union in 1993 by
Starfighter Aerospace Company, Inc., of Mineral Wells, Texas. That       
company no longer operates in Mineral Wells. This aircraft was           
subsequently purchased from Starfighters by International Jet of Gadsen, 
Alabama, and then sold to an individual in Michigan, who was flying the  
aircraft to Michigan when the crash occurred. Neither the individual nor 
International Jet were aware the aircraft contained a radioactive        
component. Based on information provided by International Jet, several of
these aircraft were imported into the United States by Starfighter       
Aerospace, and subsequently resold to individuals. It is not known       
whether all of these aircraft still contain the ice detection probe that 
houses the Strontium-90 and Yttrium-90. The owner of the aircraft is     
working with a local repair company to obtain decontamination services   
for the aircraft. The Michigan Department of Radiological Health is      
determining whether actions should be taken to decontaminate the runway  
based on a dose calculation given the low activity and the fact that all 
of the material is fixed. Alabama Radiation Health authorities have been 
notified of the possession of the aircraft by International Jet. This    
information is current as of 9:50 a.m. (CST), March 28, 1996.            

Contact:  JOHN JONES                 (708)829-9832
          MONTE PHILLIPS             (708)829-9806