COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 17 



Mr. Chaeyk. All of the repair work as recommended was 

 accomplished. 



Senator Symington. And in spite of that, in a couple of months, 

 it fell into the water ; is that right ? 



Mr. Charyk. I think it is fair to state, Senator, that Hurricane 

 Donna exceeded the original design criteria. 



Senator Symington. Who set the original specifications? 



PREPARATION OF ORIGINAL SPECIFICATIONS 



Mr. Charyk. The original specifications were prepared by the 

 architect-engineering firm, and by the Navy. 



Senator Symington. I have no further questions, Mr. Chairman. 

 Senator Stennis. Thank you. Senator. 

 Senator Jackson? 



basic issues involved in COLLAPSE 



Senator Jackson. Mr. Chairman, it seems to me that this thing 

 boils down to two basic issues. One is whether due care and pru- 

 dence was exercised in the design, engineering, and construction. 

 Then, after the tower was built, was due care and prudence exer- 

 cised by those in authority charged with the responsibility of main- 

 taining it. Perhaps my assumptions are wrong, but being what they 

 are, I would like to ask a couple of questions. 



Did the Air Force agree, from an engineering teclniical stand- 

 point, with the findings of the Navy's architect desio-n engineer? 



Mr. Charyk. It was not appropriate for the Air Force to make 

 a determination as to the design specifications. 



Senator Jackson. So that when the Navy acted for the Air Force 

 as its design and construction agency, I take it that you did not 

 exercise any veto or supervision over the technical design and de- 

 tails worked out by the Navy with its contractor. 



Mr. Charyk. We do not. 



Senator Jackson. Now, the other question I would like to ask 

 is this: Do you know whether the design for the other towers that 

 were built were similar to this one? Were they all of the same de- 

 sign? If not, why not? 



Mr. Charyk. The designs were different because of the different 

 conditions which existed at the location of the other two towers; 

 namely, the actual wave and wind conditions, and the depth of the 

 shoals. 



Senator Jackson. Well, the others are still up and apparently in 

 pretty good condition. Did they have, in your judgment, better 

 engineering desigTi incorporated into them than this tower No. 4? 



Mr. Charyk. The same individuals were involved, so that I would 

 be led to the conclusion that designs were probably comparable. 



Senator Jackson. The same firm did the design for all of them ? 



Mr. Charyk. That is correct. 



Senator Jackson. From an engineering standpoint, considering the 

 area in which you had to work, both with the elements and the sea 

 floor, was this particular site similar to the others? 



Mr. Charyk. No. The Texas tower No. 4 was by far the most dif- 

 ficult condition, in terms of the water depth in particular. 



