[BC] KFI Tower and a few FACTS!

[Dino Darling]

While searching Google, I came across this list and the many messages 
about the KFI tower.  I was upset to see some of the misinformation 
that has been posted and thought I would subscribe (again) to clear 
up a few of these errors.

Now, before I get started, I am NOT an employee of Clear Channel and 
do NOT speak for them.  I want this fact to be very clear.

I am a fan of KFI and have listened to them since I was young.  I 
used to ride my bike to the transmitter site just to look at the 
tower located in LA MIRADA (not Buena Park).  As I got older, I use 
to drive by in hope of seeing someone there and getting a tour.

Later, by coincidence, I met one of the engineers and even arranged a 
tour for a number of amateur radio operators in 2004.  Our original 
tour was delayed due to the guy wire change-out which I had the 
pleasure of assisting with (I got the video to prove it).

On the morning of the accident I was contacted and immediately made 
my way to the transmitter site.  I got there before they closed down 
the area and was able to get up close and personal.  When KFI's 
signal went off the air, the Chief Engineer tried to bring up the 
backup transmitter (317-C) remotely.  When this didn't work, another 
engineer was dispatched to the site.  Imagine his horror when he got 
close to the site and didn't see the tower!  Within an hour of going 
off the air, he quickly installed the jumper in the tuning house of 
the back-up antenna (top loaded 250' tower), switched from the main 
antenna to the back-up antenna, and brought up the Harris DX-50 to 
5KW due to the close proximity of fire trucks and personnel.

During the guy wire change-out (March/April 2004), they used this 
tower exclusively, dropping the power down to 5KW between the hours 
of 9am to 3pm in order to stop zapping the tower crew on the main 
tower.  So the engineer was very familiar with setting this tower up 
and dropping power on the DX-50.  I should also mention that the 
DX-50 did exactly what is was supposed to due when the main tower was 
destroyed.  It protected itself and as far as I know, there was no 
damage to the transmitter.  When the 317-C was switched in remotely, 
it didn't fair as well.  That flame thrower just kept going until the 
main tubes failed.  I love that 317-C!

So what went wrong?  In my opinion, PILOT ERROR!  I received this 
from a pilot who is familiar with flying in and out of the Fullerton Airport...

......... Start copied comment ..........
Dino  --  With all the misinformation and lack of information, I am 
writing to you as a friend who has flown into Fullerton many times. 
Here are the facts:

    1.  The KFI 820 foot (MSL) tower is shown on ALL aeronautical 
charts --  including the TWO charts required by law to be carried by 
VFR pilots flying in the Los Angeles area (under 10,000 feet).

    2.  The third required NAV aid (AIRPORT/FACILITY DIRECTORY) also 
warns of "Lgtd 819' tower 2 miles W-NW of arpt."

    3.  The normal traffic pattern for runway 6 is right hand i.e., 
approach from the south side of the airport and turn RIGHT to reach 
the runway  --  well SOUTH of the tower.

    4.  The Traffic Pattern Altitude for Fullerton is 1100 feet  -- 
well above the tower height.

    5.  A NORMAL approach from El Monte to Fullerton would be at 3500 
feet (to remain under the approach pattern to LAX), followed by a 
slow descent to enter the Fullerton traffic pattern at 1100 
feet.  This requires an overflight of the field above 1100' with a 
180 degree turn to return to the downwind leg of the pattern. (sounds 
complicated but is really quite easy AND you are in contact with the 
tower at all times).

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that this approach takes 
the KFI tower out of play.

NOW, the lack of info and what if's  --

The above scenario would imply 'Pilot Error' caused the 
accident.  (Too low and in the wrong place)  However, it should ALL 
be in the Fullerton Tower Tapes.  They record everything that goes 
on.  If the pilot called in (as he should) before entering Fullerton 
airspace, reporting his position and altitude AND the Fullerton Tower 
CLEARED him for a 'straight in approach', we have a shared 
responsibility because this would have placed the plane in 
jeopardy.  Again, HOWEVER, the PIC (Pilot In Command) has the 
responsibility for crew and A/C safety.  He should have refused the 
'straight in' (unable) and requested the standard approach I outlined above.

My OPINION --  Forget the lights  --  strictly pilot error.
......... End copied comment ..........

The tower was hit about 15' from the top.  The plane was flying 
SOUTH.  Both wings came off and remained mostly intact when they hit 
the ground.  The engine continued south and ended up in a wash about 
600' south of the tower.

The tower that was destroyed was installed in 1947.  Before that 
time, there were TWO 400' towers that supported the HIGH HAT antenna 
fed with parallel line.  The Fullerton Airport was there even before 
the 400' towers.

As of TODAY, the tower has NOT been replaced.  I know they are 
working on it and that they have looked into diplexing at different 
sites.  There are parameters that Clear Channel has to stay within so 
putting up a tower just anywhere will not work.  The City of La 
Mirada has suggested alternate sites.  I don't know where or the 
decision of Clear Channel to accept or decline those locations.

It is MY OPINION that it would be EXPENSIVE to move the transmitter 
to another location.  Rebuilding at this site would be the best option.

A couple of other interesting things should be noted.  Back in the 
80's, when KFI was owned by Cox Communications (I believe), the was 
an attempt to work with the pilot's association at Fullerton to 
strobe the antenna.  The estimated cost to do this was approx 
$60,000.00.  As I understand it, an agreement was made with the 
pilot's association that Cox would pay $50,000.00 and the association 
would pay $10,000.00 to complete the desired, but not mandatory, 
strobe upgrades.  Cox put money aside and the pilot's association 
never came up with their part of the deal.  The project was never 
completed and the monies set aside went back into the general 
fund.  This is hearsay but appears to be accurate.  Also, the KFI 
tower is even included in Microsoft's Flight Simulator 
program.  EVERYONE knows its there!

I don't know what the future holds.  I hope they get another tower 
right where the original one was.  It doesn't need to be as large as 
the original tower (which was designed to handle a megawatt by 
request of the DOD) with a 6' face.  A smaller faced tower at the 
original height would work just fine but require more guy wires 
(which could be a problem due to the buildings in close 
proximity).  When those buildings were built, the walls and roofs 
were covered with copper and tied into the ground system.  The 
original ground wires were removed and do not extend beyond the 
concrete block enclosure.

I'm sure I'm missing something here, but this should clear up at 
least a few things I've read on here.

73!  Dino - K6RIX

Dino...k6rix at earthlink.net