Another Explosion While Refueling

An explosion and fire which killed a 19-year old deck
hand on Lake Norman has resulted in citations for the marina and boat owner and
law suits have been filed. This tragedy once again underscores how careful we all
must be while refueling. In this case there are allegations that the engine, generator
and A/C were running while the refueling was going on.

Scene at marina after an explosion and fire.

The N.C. Department of Labor has fined a Lake Norman charter and marina in an explosion
that killed a worker in June.



And the victim's estate, meanwhile, has filed a lawsuit in Lincoln County Superior
Court, claiming the marina and the charter are responsible for the explosion and
his death.



Nathan Coppick, 19, was killed while refueling the Championship II charter at Hobbs
Westport Marina in Denver. Investigators have said a spark ignited fuel, causing
the explosion.



The Labor Department on Nov. 25 issued three “serious” and three “non-serious” violations
totaling $1,750 in fines against the marina, and two “serious” violations totaling
$2,800 against Cornelius-based Championship Yacht Charters.



The marina's serious violations included having improper gasoline-dispensing nozzles
and improper electrical equipment and wiring.



Championship's serious violations included failing to shut off motors during fueling
and failing to make sure everyone except the person fueling the boat was away from
it.



Department spokesman Neal O'Briant said the department hasn't concluded that any
of the infractions caused the explosion. The department continues to investigate
the cause, he said.



Charter owner Cliff Champion referred questions to his lawyer, John Grupp of Charlotte,
who said in an e-mail Wednesday that Championship Yacht Charters intends to appeal
the citations.



“Although the investigation into this tragic accident has not yet concluded, we
remain diligent in our efforts to learn the facts and cause(s) of this accident
to help ensure that future tragedies like this do not occur,” Grupp wrote. “We do
not believe that Championship Yacht Charters and Mr. Champion were negligent or
otherwise responsible for the explosion…”



“First and foremost,” Grupp said, “our thoughts and condolences remain with Nathan
Coppick's family.”



Marina owner Lowry Hobbs said state and county inspectors approved the marina before
it was permitted to open in 1999. None of the state's citations explain the cause
of the explosion, he said.



He said most, if not all, other marinas on the lake use the same gasoline-dispensing
nozzles as his marina. Responding to a claim in the lawsuit that a fuel leak could
have contributed to the explosion, Hobbs said the marina's hoses have extra protection
to prevent leaks.



“The fact of the matter is that did not happen,” Hobbs said. “I have not heard anything
to indicate where the ignition source was.”



Filed Nov. 18, the lawsuit claims that the boat's generator and air conditioning
system were on during the fueling. That would have created sparks capable of igniting
gasoline and gasoline vapors, the lawsuit says.



Hobbs said he's certain of what caused the mishap but can't talk publicly about
it because of the lawsuit.



He said the situation is all the more difficult because of the closeness he felt
to Coppick.



“We all loved Nate,” Hobbs said. “He was the first deck hand I ever hired.”