[TowerTalk] Request for engineering help

[Gene - W5DQ]

"Three feet of the tower are buried in a cubic yard of concrete down two feet from ground level."

My concern would be corrosion fatigue at the base. You didn't state the soil condition, but assuming the following:

1) With an 8 land call you most likely get a fair amount of rain and snow 
2) You indicated the tower itself was in the concrete / ground and not one a base stub which is built to be in concrete and solid or sealed from water intrusion

With 1 & 2 above, you did not indicate any drainage holes supplied above ground level nor how you alleviated any possibility of water from collecting in the base section below ground level. I would hesitate to climb such an installation until the base has been inspected for any corrosion, ground level and below. I would bet the lower section is corroded from water intrusion below ground level.

Your installer is a very safe climber sounds like. Take his advice for everyones sake!

--
Gene Brewer, W5DQ 
Ridgecrest, CA 
ex-WN5UZU / WB5UZU / KI6LO 
ARRL Life Member, DXCC, WAS, WAC 
10-10 #24965, 6 Club #2325, SMIRK #6900, 
NCDXF, QWCA #31839 First Licensed 1976