The old tower had eleven (10 foot) straight section of Rohn 45G

and one 9 foot section of 45G top section, thus totalling 119 feet

of standing tower.  The tower had guy wires were attached at the 30,

60, 90, and 116 foot points. The guy wires were attached guy brackets

on the tower without torque arms.  The anchor points for each set of

guys wires is at 90 feet from the base of the tower. A total of 12 guys

wires holding the tower in place.

 

Some of the problems with the tower were:

 

1.  The tower was not standing straight for a number of years, it was

leaning to the east maybe 3-4 degrees.

 

2.  The anchors for the 3 sets of guy wires were to close to the tower base.

The 90 feet of anchor spacing was only good for a tower of less than 100 feet.

Rohn Spec's

 

3.  The guy wires set were to loose and allowed the tower to sway and

twist.  Torque arms, when installed prevent the tower from twisting.

 

Then came the Winter of 2001 and 2002.  The tower was broken off

just below the 60 foot mark damaging the 50-60 foot ten foot straight section. 

The tower was also broken mid way between the 90 foot and 116 foot guy wires. 

Also note, when the tower came down, no guy wires were broken.

 

Therefore it appears the tower took on a heavy ice load with wind and because

of items 1,2, and 3 the tower first folded at about the 105 foot point then it

applied enough lateral force to break the tower at the 60 foot level.  Thus

folding downward in a Zig-Zag fashion and launching off to one side of the

tower.  Folks are lucky it didn't Zig-Zag all the way to the bottom as I have

seen before in Montana.

 

This story is better than some of the other stories I have heard.

So this is what I feel took place on the 80 site, please share with your

members if you wish.