PE00029 · PE
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES Investigation
THE SECOND-STAGE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER, DURING THE CONVERSION PROCESS, INSTALLS THE PROPANE FUEL TANK ON THE LEFT-OUTBOARD SIDE OF THE VEHICLE CARGO BED IN AN EXPOSED POSITION.THIS LOCATION APPEARS TO BE CONTRARY TO THE NFPA #152 GUIDELINES AND FORD'S BODY BUILDER LAYOUT BOOK - ALTERNATIVE FUELS GUIDELINES.IN A SIDE-SWIPE TYPE OF COLLISION, BETWEEN ONE OF THE SUBJECT CONVERSIONS AND A 1988 INTERNATION TRUCK, THE PROPANE TANK WAS IMPACTED AND THE PROPANE WAS RELEASED.THE RELEASED PROPANE REPORTEDLY IGNITED IMMEDIATELY AFTER IMPACT AND THE DRIVERS OF BOTHE VEHICLES INVOLVED WERE SERIOUSLY BURNED.ONE DRIVER DIED ALMOST INSTANTLY IN THE CAB OF HIS TRUCK AND THE SECOND DIED