20 COLLAPSE OF TEXAS TOWER NO. 4 



Senator Jackson. That was my point, Mr. Chairman. 



Senator Stennis. Yes, that is right. Still in all, as Senator Jack- 

 son said, you had all this trouble with the tower. It was giving way. 

 It was weakening and constantly needing repairs and reinforcement. 

 How do you explain the continued operation of this tower up until 

 Hurricane Donna in view of those facts? I am not including Hur- 

 ricane Donna in my question. 



Mr. Charyk:. Well, I would say 



Senator Stennis. Pardon me for just a moment. For the informa- 

 tion of the committee, subject to the approval of the committee, the 

 Chair hopes that we can run until about 12:30 and reconvene then 

 at 2 :30. 



Senator Jackson. Mr. Chairman, I have a resolution on the floor. 

 I must leave. 



Senator Stennis. We have witnesses summoned here, some from a 

 considerable distance, and we want to accommodate them in every way 

 we can and finish with those today. 



Senator Jackson. Mr. Chairman, I want to say I have the highest 

 regard for Dr. Charyk. I do not want him to tliink that any of my 

 questions were intended to reflect on his sound professional ability. 

 They were not related to that. I am just trying to get the facts in 

 connection with this inquiry. 



Senator Stennis. Surely. We appreciate that. All right, Doctor, 

 pardon that interruption. 



contributing factors toward weakening 



Mr. Charyk. Well, I would say, I think one of the contributing 

 factors was revealed in the original underwater inspection when it was 

 noted that the Dardelet bolts which had been used to attach the collars 

 were not operating properly, and the collars were actually moving up 

 and down the legs. This, in turn, caused abnormal wear on the pins in 

 the bracing, so that over the period of time in which this condition 

 existed the pin clearance had been greatly increased. This introduced 

 then a flexibility into the system which had to be corrected in some 

 other fashion, and ultimately we went to the above- water bracing as an 

 attempt to cure that difficulty. 



Senator Stennis. I was not questioning anything you did, Doctor, 

 I was comparing the situation. It seems to me the proof so far shows 

 that, in view of what was happening, even though the waves and the 

 wind had not exceeded the design criteria this tower was not going to 

 stand. Very serious defects had repeatedly developed. Yet, the op- 

 eration of the tower was continued until Hurricane Donna, assuming 

 that Hurricane Donna was the last one. 



repairs made in I9 60 DEEMED ADEQUATE 



Mr. Chartk. Well, the Air Force had concern as to the adequacy. 

 It was for this reason that in January of 1960 it again asked for an 

 underwater inspection and recommendations as to what types of action 

 would correct the difficulty. The recommendation was made to install 

 the above water bracing, make certain other repairs, and at the com- 

 pletion of this work, it was again certified to the Air Force that the 

 tower was back to the original values. 



