The Tower Incident – A Report by KB5JBV
As an amateur radio operator, I’ve had my fair share of challenges, but nothing quite like what happened the other day while working on my tower.
The incident in question began when I was performing routine maintenance at the top of my 80-foot tower. Over several trips up and down, I had managed to haul about 300 pounds of tools and materials to the top. It was only after finishing my work that I realized I had to get all that equipment back down. Instead of carrying everything by hand (which, in hindsight, would have been the wiser choice), I decided to use a more "efficient" method—a small barrel, a rope, and a pulley system.
At ground level, I secured the rope and climbed back up to load the tools and hardware into the barrel. With everything safely packed, I climbed down, untied the rope, and held it tightly to lower the load in a controlled descent. That’s when physics reminded me of my own weight—155 pounds, as noted in the accident report.
The instant I untied the rope, the barrel (now significantly heavier than me) began its rapid descent. In turn, I found myself suddenly airborne, accelerating upwards at an alarming rate. Around the 40-foot mark, I met the barrel on its way down. This accounts for the fractured collarbone and minor head trauma.
Despite the pain, I continued my ascent, stopping only when my right hand got lodged in the pulley at the very top. Now, at 80 feet in the air, dangling by one hand, I had a moment of clarity—this was not my best idea.
At the same time, the barrel, having reached the ground, lost its bottom. With nothing holding the tools, its weight instantly dropped to around 20 pounds. Suddenly, I found myself the heavier object in the equation.
What goes up must come down.
Once again, I began a rapid descent. At around 40 feet, I encountered the now-empty barrel on its way up, which resulted in several lacerations and two fractured ankles. The impact slowed me just enough to make my final landing atop the pile of tools a little less catastrophic—though it still left me with three cracked vertebrae.
Now lying in a heap, in pain but still conscious, I looked up just in time to see the now-empty barrel, still 80 feet in the air, hanging by the rope I had been clutching for dear life.
And that’s when I made my final mistake.
I let go of the rope.
Needless to say, the barrel made its final descent... directly onto me.
In summary, I have since learned the value of proper planning, and I now have a much deeper respect for physics.
© 2025, Richard Bailey. All rights reserved.