An energy absorbing fitting comprising: a band of composite material, the band having a first surface and a second surface on opposite surfaces of the band, the band having an intermediate portion of the band that has an inverted U-shape, the band having a first end portion of the band that extends from the intermediate portion, the band having a second end portion of the band that extends from the intermediate portion on an opposite side of the intermediate portion from the first end portion of the band; a panel of composite material, the panel having a first surface and a second surface on opposite surfaces of the panel, the panel having an intermediate portion of the panel that has a U-shape, the panel having a first side portion of the panel that extends from the intermediate portion of the panel, the panel having a second side portion of the panel that extends from the intermediate portion of the panel on an opposite side of the intermediate portion of the panel from the first side portion of the panel, a sheet of composite material, the sheet having a first surface and a second surface on opposite surfaces of the sheet, the sheet having a bend that extends across the sheet between a first end portion of the sheet and a second end portion of the sheet, characterized in that the panel is positioned inside the band with the panel first side portion engaging and secured directly to the band first end portion and the panel second side portion engaging with and secured directly to the band second end portion, and wherein the first end portion of the sheet is positioned over and secured directly to the intermediate portion of the panel and the sheet second end portion is positioned over and secured directly to the intermediate portion of the band. a band of composite material, the band having a first surface and a second surface on opposite surfaces of the band, the band having an intermediate portion of the band that has an inverted U-shape, the band having a first end portion of the band that extends from the intermediate portion, the band having a second end portion of the band that extends from the intermediate portion on an opposite side of the intermediate portion from the first end portion of the band; a panel of composite material, the panel having a first surface and a second surface on opposite surfaces of the panel, the panel having an intermediate portion of the panel that has a U-shape, the panel having a first side portion of the panel that extends from the intermediate portion of the panel, the panel having a second side portion of the panel that extends from the intermediate portion of the panel on an opposite side of the intermediate portion of the panel from the first side portion of the panel, a sheet of composite material, the sheet having a first surface and a second surface on opposite surfaces of the sheet, the sheet having a bend that extends across the sheet between a first end portion of the sheet and a second end portion of the sheet, characterized in that the panel is positioned inside the band with the panel first side portion engaging and secured directly to the band first end portion and the panel second side portion engaging with and secured directly to the band second end portion, and wherein the first end portion of the sheet is positioned over and secured directly to the intermediate portion of the panel and the sheet second end portion is positioned over and secured directly to the intermediate portion of the band.