A pressure test gone sideways in a tight spot

Two weeks back, we were doing a hydrostatic test on a new section of boiler tube at the plant. Everything was standard, 1.5 times the working pressure, but I got a real bad feeling when the gauge started to jump. I yelled to cut the pump, and we found a hairline crack in a weld we'd just passed visual on. The thing is, it was in a spot you could only see with a mirror, tucked behind a support bracket. We'd been rushing to beat a shutdown deadline. That crack would've let go under full steam, no question. It was a long, quiet ride home that day. Anyone else had a close call from a blind spot inspection?

2 comments

2 Comments

tylerw921mo ago

Come on, that's just a fluke and you got lucky.

ryan_carr591mo ago

My luck is about as reliable as a coin flip, so you're probably right.