Federal investigators have identified a leak in the 127-year-old gas main that likely caused last week’s explosion — which collapsed two upper Park Avenue apartment buildings and killed eight people.
The National Transportation Safety Board said its test revealed that the aging 8-inch cast-iron gas main running beneath Park Avenue that supplied the buildings was defective.
“The . . . main on Park Avenue between 116th and 117th streets failed the pressure test at the normal operating pressure,” the NTSB said.
“Tracer gas pumped into the main and a leak survey identified a leak adjacent to 1646 Park Ave., one of the collapsed buildings.”
The NTSB said the leaky segment of pipe would be shipped to Washington, DC, for further testing.
The source of the ignition remained unclear.
Two segments of the service line that fed gas from the main line to the buildings have been recovered and will also be sent to DC.
Meanwhile, a livery-cab owner whose car was damaged in the blast plans to sue the city, after learning that insurance will not cover his $5,000 in damages.
Juan Marti Alcantara, 31, had rented the black hybrid Toyota Camry out to driver Persio Bellard, who was passing the buildings at the time of the explosion.