[TowerTalk] Yet ANOTHER way to kill yourself on a crankup

[Stan & Patricia Griffiths]

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "K4SB" <k4sb at earthlink.net>
> To: <cq-contest at contesting.com>; <secc at contesting.com>;
> <rtty at contesting.com>
> Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 2:37 PM
> Subject: [CQ-Contest] Re:A funny thing happened on the way to the forum
> 
> 
> >
> > To make a short story long, I spent the afternoon redoing the coax to
> > the TH11.
> >
> > Just as I am about finished..UPS delivers 2 pre cut lengths of RG-214
> > with PL259s on each end. Well, one of the lengths was to replace the
> > coax in place, so I said, what the heck, and climbed up the ladder to
> > the top of the crank up again, to cut the
> > old coax off. Anyway, I generally use a barrel connector at some point
> > from the feed of the antenna, and when I had undone the feed, and cut
> > the tape, I decided I might as well cut the coax right before it went
> > into the barrel connector. So, I did that and
> > just tossed it, maybe 20 feet long, off the tower.
> >
> > Still with me? Now, I was standing with my feet on the lower section
> > tubes of the crank up, BUT belted to the upper section.
> >
> > I don't know how, but when I tossed the short piece, it somehow
> > activated the 'up" switch on the control box. Which is a pretty good
> > trick as it is a single pole double throw and the "up" position is the
> > top part.
> >
> > So, I find myself suddenly being hoisted up...remember, I am belted to
> > the top section.
> >
> > At first, I thought, what the hell, I'll just climb down when the
> > sucker gets to 90'.
> > I then became painfully aware that the belt around my waist was
> > preventing me from breathing. Fortunately, I chickened out and
> > quickly, in about 50 ms, just undid the whole belt from around my
> > waist. This allowed the belt to go past me, and I remained standing on
> > the top tubes frantically trying to keep a hold on with my hands.
> >
> > Fortunately, I did so and stepped down to the ladder I keep
> > permanently in place. Down the ladder and good ole solid earth beneath
> > my feet. You know the first thing I did when I got down? I hit the
> > switch and stopped the tower.
> >
> > The second thing I did was unplug the tower motor from the buried
> > extension line.
> >
> > Never again will I go up that ladder with the motor plugged in!!! And
> > I hope this
> > off subject post may warn others.
> >
> > 73
> > Ed