Well that didn't work... Failure Gallery

[Aksrockets]

Post whatever you want about your rocket failures. These could be:
Catos
Shreds
Instability
Lawn darts
Land sharks
Core samples
Or anything that didnt work quite like you expected.

here (http://aksrockets.blogspot.com/2010/10/previous-launches.html) is mine.
See the pictures and the paragraph titled "naive launch" those flights didnt work out so well because I didnt know about the CG/CP of the rocket or what that even meant.

Here is just a photo of my failure49405

[JAL3]

Using an old Estes E-15 on a beloved, rare rocket is not a good idea...

[Fishhead]

I've never heard a good E15 story. What was the end result? What's the story behind this bird? Very interesting design.

[cjl]

My most painful failure - my 4 inch AIM-120C on an M1300 Dual Thrust last year at LDRS:

http://www.rocketryplanet.com/images/stories/2010/3324/3/12.jpg http://www.rocketryplanet.com/images/stories/2010/3324/3/13.jpg

(For anyone who wants to fly an M1300, I suggest you glue the grains...)

[JAL3]

I've never heard a good E15 story. What was the end result? What's the story behind this bird? Very interesting design.

This was the thread: http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=3215

It was a beta for PemTech's HMAS Bonestell. I had plenty of nice flights. It was a bit squirrely because of a crooked fin. I was searching for the power threshold where the bad stuff started to happen. I found some old E15s from the early 90s in my garage.


CATO

:sad:

:cry:

I gave the carcass to a kid who was present in the hope of enticing him to further participation. Didn't happen.

:sad:

[Pem Tech]

Using an old Estes E-15 on a beloved, rare rocket is not a good idea...

*quiet sobbing*
:(

[mannyskid]

This was my most energetic failure yet. At the MWP 8 drag race I flew my "Dangler" (Means someone who is really good at hockey, this flight was dedicated to my hockey team) on a wicked fast K-850 brass blue motor made by Darin Raymond. The mach delay was set a little too short and I popped my drouge shortly after burn out. It was alright though, only 2 out of 5 survived the race.

Manny

[bill2654]

Here is what happends when your ignitor isn't inserted all the way up to your delay. 49423

49424

[SMR]

Oh, where do I start? Let's see... the first picture is the end result of the cato of one G80-4T single use motor in a 3 motor cluster. Blew the side of the rocket open and started it on fire. All fins remained attached, and the other two motors were fine, so it had a stable flight and normal, albeit low, apogee deployment. The rocket recovered in flames, close to the pad, under a full canopy.

The second thru fourth pictures are the result of a delay element o-ring not sealing. Basically, 10% or so of the thrust went out the forward closure like a little blowtorch, opened the rocket early, blew out the laundry, and burned thru the shock cord. The rocket survived and flew again the next day.

[rstaff3]

In honor of my only non-ejection event on a 29/40-120 motor. A G71 IIRC. I reckon I forgot to back fill the press-on cap with dog barf to make sure the powder stayed near the ejection port (?)

This rocket's BT was window tint tube (similar to Quantum tube). The nose cone was toast, the small fins on the ring shredded off at impact, and about 1/2" of the tube needed to be trimmed off. A new nose cone section was fabbed and it is flying again.

[UPscaler]

hey, awesome gallery!

[gpoehlein]

Well, here's mine. The first pic is both my full size Phoenix (a paper rocket of my own design, and a really good flyer) along with a mini version I was experimenting with. The second pic is the result of not wrapping the chute tight enough and having it hang in the tube causing a blowout.

[JAL3]

Well, here's mine. The first pic is both my full size Phoenix (a paper rocket of my own design, and a really good flyer) along with a mini version I was experimenting with. The second pic is the result of not wrapping the chute tight enough and having it hang in the tube causing a blowout.

Those look great. Do you have the plans available?

[robbdm]

What happens when nose cone is too tight. This G-Force was repaired and flew again, crashed several more times and was repaired several more times.

[Lentamental]

Not my own failure, but I got a sweet photo.
It seems like the delay was about 5-6 seconds too long. The rocket lawn-darted, ramming the BT over the nose cone. Hard. This is the Arizona desert we are talking about. That stuff is like pavement. Then, a second or so later, the ejection charge went off, but the nosecone was stuck, so it blew the BT to pieces. I suppose its better the charge went off before people got there though...

[New Ocean]

Phantom 4000. Loved that kit, many good flights on F101, G55, and clusters. A few 5x D12 flights, to date still my most complex clusters. This last flight was on a G55, and the nosecone was too tight. Should have continued to sand it. Ballistic from 500 feet, nosecone stuck about 2 feet down into sod. Looked like one of those cartoon cannons that got plugged and blew up in daffy duck's face.

[Balsa Bob]

My Art Applewhite "Stars and Stripes" treated shabbily by an Estes E9-P.
The saucer is barely visible at base of smoke plume.

[adrian]

Scratch-built Feuerlilie F25 failing to launch with an Estes B6-4.

The rocket survived and has flown safely since. :)

[peter_stanley]

Loc Isis deployment failure.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--x81xJQx4_I/Sltd0cVmbTI/AAAAAAAAJOs/bl9AqN4p2CI/s400/DSC00121.JPG

Here is the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARNLbN0LgGQ

[Micromeister]

Ahhh KEWL! I've had a couple of those...LOL!
Here are 5 early offerings; 3 Catos...1 prang and a Bernoulli Lock..before I found out what that was!
Cato's were the only D13 cato I suffered, a C6 & a much later D12 very cold weather boomer.

Putting an B8-5 in an interceptor was just a bonehead move on my part..last flight of the day and last motor in the box LOL...live and learn.

[DJDeadParrot]

THOY Wasp was flown on what the package said was an F40-7, but turned out to be more like a F40-13 or so. It kicked the payload section out on the way down [and thank goodness, too, as it was carrying an RRC2X along for the ride], and the lower section took a core sample.

[qquake2k]

My 9ft long Halfway There, fortunately my one and only lawn dart. It was on an F40 reload. Never did figure out what happened, it just never separated. There was black powder residue in the top of the motor tube, so I know the charge went off. I think there was just too much volume to pressurize.

mMY6w5zxXL4

[hcmbanjo]

Roger Smith (Jonrocket.com) is our section's "go-to" man for great launch pictures.
He caught my MARTIAN PATROL CATO on an old Quest C6-3.
It fireballed through the middle and blistered the paint a bit.
In the picture, the saucers are still hanging on.
No real damage, it's flown a few times since.

Enlarge the picture and you can see the engine falling underneath the rocket.
As much as we searched, the casing wasn't found.

[JAL3]

Roger Smith (Jonrocket.com) is our section's "go-to" man for great launch pictures.
He caught my MARTIAN PATROL CATO on an old Quest C6-3.
It fireballed through the middle and blistered the paint a bit.
In the picture, the saucers are still hanging on.
No real damage, it's flown a few times since.

Enlarge the picture and you can see the engine falling underneath the rocket.
As much as we searched, the casing wasn't found.

Do you have the plans and part list for the Martian Patrol? I have a Lunar Patrol and might like to clone the martians to go with it...assuming I ever get to build anything again.

[gpoehlein]

Do you have the plans and part list for the Martian Patrol? I have a Lunar Patrol and might like to clone the martians to go with it...assuming I ever get to build anything again.

It's tough to clone because of those two foam saucers. Keep an eye on Ebay - They come up ever so often and don't usually bid up too high.

The plans are available on YORS:

http://www.oldrocketplans.com/mpc/mpcR-844/mpcR-844.htm

[cjl]

So apparently, a 5 inch Performance Rocketry nose cone fails at around mach 2.2...

(Pics and video to come)

[hcmbanjo]

Do you have the plans and part list for the Martian Patrol? I have a Lunar Patrol and might like to clone the martians to go with it...assuming I ever get to build anything again.

Hi John,
I don't know if the two were compatable. The foam saucers have little plastic pieces that slip over the dowel like extensions on the outside edges of the fins.
Thanks Greg for the plans link.

That fireball C6-3 was the first time I flew it.
Later, it flew twice at the NEFAR launch. I stuck a B6-2 into it and asked a few to watch the three pieces for me. I didn't know how far away the saucers would fly.
It probably got 150 feet in the air, the saucers flapping along the side as it went up. The parachute ejected and the saucers released.
One saucer fell in a flat position, "sort of hovered". The other saucer flipped end over end. I was laughing anyway.
I loaded up a C6-3 to try and redeem myslf, at least for a better altitude.
It was higher, but the same recovery on the two saucers.

They do sell on EBAY here and there. One guy is selling a kit for a by-it-now price of $99.95! Good luck! He's relisted it for six months now.

[Fishhead]

This was an Estes Mean Machine that I converted to a Centuri ThunderRoc. I put an E mount in it, and launched it on an E9-4 for the first flight. Unfortunately the E9-4 turned out to be more like an E9-1. The whole crowd watching the launch went "OOOOHHH!" at the same time. (Kind of like every male in the movie theater did when Lou Gossett, Jr. kicked Richard Gere in the pills in "Officer and a Gentleman".) I complained to Estes, and they told me that the Mean Machine wasn't supposed to fly on E9's. They sent me a new coupler to help with my rebuild.:y::confused2:

[mannyskid]

So apparently, a 5 inch Performance Rocketry nose cone fails at around mach 2.2...

(Pics and video to come)

I saw your post on RP about that, I was hoping to see pics and video. Too bad, you'll get 'em next time. Although, I can imagine an N5800 Cstar shred was pretty spectacular!

Manny
EDIT: Did you happen to be using a Raven or other Featherweight altimeter? If you were, could you either post or send me the file? I'm trying to put together files for the MWP 5800 drag race. Thanks.

[Peartree]

When I first was getting into the hobby I built a rocket entirely of parts supplied by the Pepsi corporation (just to see if I could). I thought I needed more nose weight because it was stubby so I added a stack of bottle caps (and a couple lead tire weights).

49705

It looked nice and the flight started out pretty good on a C6 something...

49706

Sadly, it wasn't stable enough, was over stable, or a C just wasn't enough to get it going. It made a nice high arc nose first into the edge of the soccer field and nearly every single part unglued from the other.

49707

I still have the parts in a box somewhere...

[cjl]

I saw your post on RP about that, I was hoping to see pics and video. Too bad, you'll get 'em next time. Although, I can imagine an N5800 Cstar shred was pretty spectacular!

Manny
EDIT: Did you happen to be using a Raven or other Featherweight altimeter? If you were, could you either post or send me the file? I'm trying to put together files for the MWP 5800 drag race. Thanks.

I had a Raven and an R-DAS, but the boards were destroyed in the impact. I'll give the Raven to Adrian next time I see him, but I doubt there's any recoverable data to be had.

The boost was awesome though. Here are pics:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/th_RL1D2665.jpg?t=1306788119 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/RL1D2665.jpg) http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/th_RL1D2666.jpg?t=1306788119 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/RL1D2666.jpg) http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/th_RL1D2667.jpg?t=1306788119 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/RL1D2667.jpg) http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/th_RL1D2668.jpg?t=1306788119 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/RL1D2668.jpg) http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/th_RL1D2669.jpg?t=1306788119 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/RL1D2669.jpg) http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/th_RL1D2675.jpg?t=1306788119 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/RL1D2675.jpg)

I'll post pics of the crash site later - I haven't downloaded them to the computer yet. Given how loud and spectacular the boost was though, the drag race at MWP should really be something. I'm definitely considering heading out there just to see it, now that I've seen an N5800 in action.

[mannyskid]

That's too bad, I would have really liked to see the data. Gus's 70lb bird pulled 21 Gs with an N5800, can't imagine what that thing did! I'll have to put a word in with Tim for some fillament wound 5" nose cones.

PS: You have to change your signature to (58% O):D

Manny

[hornet driver]

Phantom 4000. Loved that kit, many good flights on F101, G55, and clusters. A few 5x D12 flights, to date still my most complex clusters. This last flight was on a G55, and the nosecone was too tight. Should have continued to sand it. Ballistic from 500 feet, nosecone stuck about 2 feet down into sod. Looked like one of those cartoon cannons that got plugged and blew up in daffy duck's face.

YIKES

[cjl]

That's too bad, I would have really liked to see the data. Gus's 70lb bird pulled 21 Gs with an N5800, can't imagine what that thing did! I'll have to put a word in with Tim for some fillament wound 5" nose cones.

PS: You have to change your signature to (58% O):D

Manny

True enough :D

(I really wish I could have seen the data. Sims said 29G liftoff, accelerating to 33G peak later in the burn, and based on how it hauled off the pad, I think it did every bit of that)

[mannyskid]

True enough :D

(I really wish I could have seen the data. Sims said 29G liftoff, accelerating to 33G peak later in the burn, and based on how it hauled off the pad, I think it did every bit of that)

So is the fin can okay? I mean good enough to rebuild? If it's a little on the short side you could just get a coupler and some more tube. I can't wait for the MWP drag race, I was seriously considering it but all my money is going to Carbon Nightmare ( http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=21457 ) It's okay as I have 2 M's lined up for a single stage launch at MWP (if you go to MWP then you're in for a treat, I have possibly the last M2200 skidmark lined up for it). If that thing was supposed to be pulling 33Gs then Gus's goose is going to cook on one of those, it sims good for 50 Gs! I hope you rebuild and try again.

Manny

[cjl]

The fin can is mostly OK. The front 4 inches or so is toast, and the front railbutton is gone, but other than that, it's fine. The main problem will be getting the casing out. The front of the case mushroomed when it hit, so right now, the case is quite solidly stuck inside the fin can. I may end up having to cut off the front of the motor to get it out.

[mannyskid]

Ouch! I've had a couple mushrooms before but none as bad as that. Speaking of which, this is another I can add to this gallery. Wildman 3 Last summer with an L935, some BP fell out of the canister on the way up, there was no apogee and only a main, the nose cone poped on cue at 800 ft and ripped the cord. Here is what was left (including the badly mushroomed 6glx case) the payload section is still 4 ft down in argonia. When I found it it was buried above the fin slots. Now there's a core sample! Rockets don't like falling at terminal velocity from 16,000 ft! Some say this rocket was destined to fail as it was named "Bull's Eye Racing" after me and my dad's drag racing group. PS Glad to hear that your booster is mostly fine.

Manny

[mikec]

CTI K300 in a 54mm minimum diameter. Forward closure burned through and ignited the apogee charge about 4 seconds into the flight. I got the electronics back and CTI replaced the motor and case under warranty. The booster was burned to a crisp by hot gas from the forward closure, but my tip-to-tip fins stayed on!

[cjl]

Here's the result from that N5800 flight:

[GRIFFIN]

Here's the result from that N5800 flight:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Level%203%20rocket/th_IMG_4397.jpg?t=1306807042 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Level%203%20rocket/IMG_4397.jpg) http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Level%203%20rocket/th_IMG_4417.jpg?t=1306807042 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Level%203%20rocket/IMG_4417.jpg) http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Level%203%20rocket/th_IMG_4425.jpg?t=1306807042 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Level%203%20rocket/IMG_4425.jpg) http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Level%203%20rocket/th_IMG_4426.jpg?t=1306807042 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Level%203%20rocket/IMG_4426.jpg)

Here's the Raven:
http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Level%203%20rocket/th_IMG_4421.jpg?t=1306807042 (http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c183/chris_lapanse/Level%203%20rocket/IMG_4421.jpg)

FYI, when I try to open up your pictures, my (norton) antivirus alerts to a problem with the file.

[cjl]

FYI, when I try to open up your pictures, my (norton) antivirus alerts to a problem with the file.

Bizarre.

Mine (also norton) has no problems. What version do you have, and what does the warning say? I definitely don't want anyone to have trouble with any of my pictures.

[mannyskid]

Here's the result from that N5800 flight:
It actually doesn't look too bad, minus the Av-bay. Instead of cutting that case, I would suggest using a rubber mallet and try to hammer it out. That way you could possibly send it to CTI for them to have a look at it. They may be able to fix it for you. You probably don't even need to cut that booster at all, just some new tube and a coupler. Although, I can't see it very well. All in all, very cool flight! Can't wait to see the video!

Manny

[GRIFFIN]

Bizarre.

Mine (also norton) has no problems. What version do you have, and what does the warning say? I definitely don't want anyone to have trouble with any of my pictures.

I am using the 2011 norton "internet security"

When I try to open the pictures (I tried each one) it pops up with a norton warning about the Photo bucket website being a "malitious website" and it recommended not to vivit site.
I am not sure if this is a problem or not, I just figured I would let you know.
I can see the pictures fine from the forum. It's just when I try to "enlarge them" for better view.

[cjl]

It actually doesn't look too bad, minus the Av-bay. Instead of cutting that case, I would suggest using a rubber mallet and try to hammer it out. That way you could possibly send it to CTI for them to have a look at it. They may be able to fix it for you. You probably don't even need to cut that booster at all, just some new tube and a coupler. Although, I can't see it very well. All in all, very cool flight! Can't wait to see the video!

Manny

Well, the front of the casing is swelled, so to get it out, I either have to cut the booster section (full length), or cut off the front of the casing. I'd prefer not to destroy the booster to get the casing out.

[Micromeister]

I think of all the crashes, CATOs and other goofy things that I've seen and had happen to me over the years the last flight & crash (Flt#14) of my 3X 4-D12 Clustered Orbital transport hurt the most.

Apparently all the previous flights had finally burned a hole in the BT-60 stuffer tube venting most of the ejection gas which did not leave enough to get the cone off and laundry out. The reason it hurt so, is I can't save either the mother ship or orbiter both will have to be rebuild almost completely.

[Rocketman248]

So apparently, a 5 inch Performance Rocketry nose cone fails at around mach 2.2...

(Pics and video to come)


Ouch! Sorry to hear that, man. It looked like one hell of a boost though!

[Adrian A]

Here's the result from that N5800 flight:

So I see the drogue, I think. Did the main rip off? What could you see from the ground?

[cjl]

The main ripped off, and from what I can tell the rocket from the electronics bay down (including the drogue compartment) came in ballistic. The main was seen floating towards Cheyenne. I imagine the force of the main ripping away disabled the electronics, which is what prevented the drogue charge from firing when the bottom section reached apogee.

[SMR]

So apparently, a 5 inch Performance Rocketry nose cone fails at around mach 2.2...

Wow, nice looking boost, but sorry to see your loss. And just as I was starting my build for the MWP9 N5800 drag race. There are 10 of us in it, now I'm just hoping to survive. Any recommendations, i.e. beefing up the nose cone?

P.S. But the drag race will be a good chance to check out Wildman's "The Wildman Rocket Lifetime Guarantee", since the N5800 IS a commercial motor.

[cjl]

Wow, nice looking boost, but sorry to see your loss. And just as I was starting my build for the MWP9 N5800 drag race. There are 10 of us in it, now I'm just hoping to survive. Any recommendations, i.e. beefing up the nose cone?

P.S. It'll be a good chance to check out Wildman's "The Wildman Rocket Lifetime Guarantee", since the N5800 IS a commercial motor.

Yes, but that wasn't a Wildman rocket. It was based on an Intimidator 5, but it was modified to be lighter and more aerodynamic. My bet is that a stock Ultimate Wildman would stand a good chance at surviving, if nothing else because it won't get going as fast. I might be tempted to throw a layer of T2T on the fins, and foam the nose cone just to be sure though.

(On the other hand, if you're going for something smaller than an UW, then you'll need more serious reinforcement)

[Luv2launch]

Post whatever you want about your rocket failures. These could be:
Catos
Shreds
Instability
Lawn darts
Land sharks
Core samples
Or anything that didnt work quite like you expected.

here (http://aksrockets.blogspot.com/2010/10/previous-launches.html) is mine.
See the pictures and the paragraph titled "naive launch" those flights didnt work out so well because I didnt know about the CG/CP of the rocket or what that even meant.

Here is just a photo of my failure49405


I did something like this once except I used the fins and nosecone from a Mosquito and glued them onto a C6-7 was a great flight I even managed to find the spent motor case on the field later sans fins and nose cone but the lug was still on it.

[FatBoy]

Here is my Semroc Centurion after it's first flight on a D12. My shock cord attachment was less than optimal and it suffered a separation at ejection. A quick repair with a stronger glue joint and it was good to go.

[qquake2k]

Here is my Semroc Centurion after it's first flight on a D12. My shock cord attachment was less than optimal and it suffered a separation at ejection. A quick repair with a stronger glue joint and it was good to go.

Nice looking fillets. I'm glad it wasn't damaged. My nephew has a Centurion, and it's a great flying rocket.

[JoeLaunchman]

With the recent re-introduction of the Estes A10-0T I decided to build a new sustainer for my old Beta booster stage, named Gamma. First attempt on 6/12 with an A10-0T/A3-4T combo. Excellent boost phase, followed by a failure to ignite the upper. The result was a lawn dart that wreaked havoc on the BT-20 and balsa cone.

I've only gotten this combination of motors to work in 2 out of 7 attempts over the years. Must be a systemic problem.

[dave carver]

...I could overload this forum with failure photo's, if I had any :p Not failures, more than plenty of them. Just no photos.

If there were I'd probably get disgusted and quit.:rolleyes:

[Fishhead]

With the recent re-introduction of the Estes A10-0T I decided to build a new sustainer for my old Beta booster stage, named Gamma. First attempt on 6/12 with an A10-0T/A3-4T combo. Excellent boost phase, followed by a failure to ignite the upper. The result was a lawn dart that wreaked havoc on the BT-20 and balsa cone.

I've only gotten this combination of motors to work in 2 out of 7 attempts over the years. Must be a systemic problem.

I had the same problem with my Beta. One of the guys I was flying with mentioned that I could lessen the possibility of this happening by poking something into the sustainer engine and scratching some of the propellant away to expose the fresh propellant. It doesn't take much and I've never had it happen since that first time.

[BobH48]

With the recent re-introduction of the Estes A10-0T I decided to build a new sustainer for my old Beta booster stage, named Gamma. First attempt on 6/12 with an A10-0T/A3-4T combo. Excellent boost phase, followed by a failure to ignite the upper. The result was a lawn dart that wreaked havoc on the BT-20 and balsa cone.

I've only gotten this combination of motors to work in 2 out of 7 attempts over the years. Must be a systemic problem.I use A10-0T / 1/2A3-4T combo most of the time and have only had the sustainer fail to ignite once. I believe the nozzle of the A3-4T and the 1/2A3-4T are the same so it should be the same reliability.

I had several A10-0T's blow through and ignite the sustainer immediately just a few feet off the pad, had one stage still on the rod, and one blow through without even moving but still lit the sustainer.

I had one blow the booster of my Midget apart but, it too, lit the sustainer.

All of the "bad" ones had the same date code 6A6 and I got them all at the same time about 6 years ago so I don't know how they were stored.

So total for that combo was:

Beta - 8 flights
Midget - 6 flights
Firefly - 4 flights
Mini Omega 3 flights

And only once did the sustainer fail to ignite.

[BobH48]

But in keeping with the spirit of this thread. Weak ejection charge which popped the nose cone but the chute never deployed.

[accooper]

I'm glad I never have any flights like these! :)

They don't call me the core sample king for nothin'!

I think it hurts more when the Mrs. Says "I know you did your best honey."

Great pictures guys.

Andrew

[RedMaxFlyer]

First attachment is what was left of my Blue Tube RDS Shooting Star after a stuck 'chute caused it to core sample. The fin can is toast, but the recovery harness, motor retainer, and payload section all have either been recycled into other rockets or are about to be recycled.

Second attachment is my "Same Old Blues", an Always Ready Roccketry 3" Basic Blues kit (and the rocket that the Shooting Star's shock cord and motor retainer were recycled into), after the ejection charge went off upon motor ignition. Completely repairable (though I might have to rename it "Same Old 'lues" after I cut off the forward part of the airframe), and will fly again later this year.

[adrian]

Lawn dart!

[gdjsky01]

Great pictures ( well you know what I mean ). :p:o:o I destroyed my Dagger on its 2nd flight when a -4 acted like a -8. I feel yer pain. Funny thing I don't snap shots of the wreckage. Too painful???:cry:

[Wayco]

Apogee Aspire after an Estes E-9-6 Cato'ed on ignition:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/allands/2011-04-24%20April/007-1.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/allands/2011-04-24%20April/060.jpg

Here it is a month later, renamed "Salvage 1" with original fins, nose cone, recovery gear and most of the body tube
with another coupler added:
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/allands/2011-05-15%20SSS%20May%20launch/071.jpg

[Pem Tech]

Lawn dart!


HA!!!!
An instant classic...
:clap:

[GRIFFIN]

P/R Lil Rascal........it whistled going up and down.

(flying it again this weekend)

[n3tjm]

My new Saturn V with an Aerotech E20-4W.
kLnnkTlYkL0

[GregGleason]

My new Saturn V with an Aerotech E20-4W.
kLnnkTlYkL0

Nooooooo!



What happened?



Greg

[n3tjm]

Needs a little nose weight

[AndyC]

My Son's semi-upscale(3") mean machine suffered a forward closure failure on a Loki H144 white motor. A good friend of mine caught this amazing photo of the calamity in progress. Booster was torched, but the fin can was salvaged - added a new tube, and it is still flying today!

[Fishhead]

How timely!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG6iVy071Gw

[gdjsky01]

and some days you are the bug...

[qquake2k]

and some days you are the bug...

Ouch!

[XrayLizard]

Well...no pics..

But all I have to say is:

"FSI F100, Balsa and Paper Shower"

[qquake2k]

Well...no pics..

But all I have to say is:

"FSI F100, Balsa and Paper Shower"

Been there, done that!

[modeltrains]

Well, here's mine. The first pic is both my full size Phoenix (a paper rocket of my own design, and a really good flyer) along with a mini version I was experimenting with. Nice looking models.

[edwinshap1]

and some days you are the bug...

aww jeff that sucks. that happen yesterday?

[gdjsky01]

aww jeff that sucks. that happen yesterday?

Nah... a while ago. G38 that seemed to have had 0 ejection charge. EconoJets hate me. It's just a cool (or not) picture I ran into while rummaging though pictures that seemed a good fit here... I believe I have a few more! :D :y:

[FastCargo]

A successful swing test does not a stable rocket confirm...

But at least it's flying record matches the real thing.

FC

[Pem Tech]

A successful swing test does not a stable rocket confirm...

But at least it's flying record matches the real thing.

FC

:y:
OH NOES!
How bad was the damage?

[CF-105]

At least it didn't explode and destroy the pad! :D

[Luv2launch]

At least it didn't explode and destroy the pad! :D

And take all your top scientists with it.

[rstaff3]

My latest fiasco...

[CF-105]

If I'm gonna comment, I guess I should contribute too!

From a number of years ago. Apparently the pilot forgot what "glide" means...

[CF-105]

I believe in two kinds of flights:

1 - Successful flights
2 - "Learning experiences"

From this flight, I learned:
- Don't make your first-ever use of RMS motors a cert flight
- Guys that fly only hybrids are *not* a good mentor for learning to assemble reloads.
- Phenolic burns *real good*
- The PML Black Brant V is stable, even without a nosecone, and with fire shooting out the front end...

[FastCargo]

:y:
OH NOES!
How bad was the damage?

Not as bad as you might think.

Though the chute didn't deploy before ground impact, it hit the ground sideways. The first stage 'flare' got dented on one side. But no parts came off...heck, you could display it with the dented side facing away and you'd never think anything was wrong. Anyway, it's a relatively minor repair...hopefully just a matter of pulling out the dent, putty and paint.

After analysis and post mortem, what we think happened is that the N-1 model is a 'drag stable' rocket. The big, flared bottom acts like a huge suction cup, always trying to pull to the center, like saucers, Stealths, wedge, etc do. But because the drag area is smaller in relation to the length of the rocket, we think it needs more speed before it can become completely effective against side forces like a crossbreeze.

We think that is why it could pass a swing test, yet not fly correctly...it simply didn't have enough speed when it left the rod. It didn't help that A) it's heavy - 10.4 oz with a D12-3 and B) the launch rod goes through the body...there is a launch lug that extends from the base all the way to the nose shroud. Both factors resulting in slower takeoffs.

I'm not sure if I'm going to attempt another flight after it's repaired.

FC

[BayouRat]

I shredded this one a few years back.

bnFdE71CqxI

[Leo]

Today at the field.

Cluster of 3 Estes C engines with one deciding it had enough.

http://www.leo.nutz.de/images/rockets/forums/Solaris_2011_11.jpg

[stickershock23]

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/IMG_8252.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/LDRS26_7-16-07_RAL_CATO-MarkHayes-B.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/LDRS26_7-16-07_RAL_CATO-MarkHaye-1.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/LDRS26_7-16-07_RAL_CATO-MarkHaye-2.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/LDRS26_7-16-07_RAL_CATO-MarkHaye-5.jpg


M3000 purple EX motor.... Photos Courtesy or Ray Lapnse..

[SteveF]

stickershock - is that jean NV?

[MarkII]

I had the same problem with my Beta. One of the guys I was flying with mentioned that I could lessen the possibility of this happening by poking something into the sustainer engine and scratching some of the propellant away to expose the fresh propellant. It doesn't take much and I've never had it happen since that first time.I used that combination in my TK-40 Midget in its only flight so far, and it worked fine. The fit was so snug that I didn't need to tape the motors together. Sort of like Pop 'N Go staging, I guess. I tried to tape them together, but even a single wrap of cellophane tape was too thick and I couldn't get the BT-5 booster on all the way. So I skipped it and went without, which worked out fine. The motors were still butted up against each other, with no gap.

[MarkII]

Not as bad as you might think.

Though the chute didn't deploy before ground impact, it hit the ground sideways. The first stage 'flare' got dented on one side. But no parts came off...heck, you could display it with the dented side facing away and you'd never think anything was wrong. Anyway, it's a relatively minor repair...hopefully just a matter of pulling out the dent, putty and paint.

After analysis and post mortem, what we think happened is that the N-1 model is a 'drag stable' rocket. The big, flared bottom acts like a huge suction cup, always trying to pull to the center, like saucers, Stealths, wedge, etc do. But because the drag area is smaller in relation to the length of the rocket, we think it needs more speed before it can become completely effective against side forces like a crossbreeze.

We think that is why it could pass a swing test, yet not fly correctly...it simply didn't have enough speed when it left the rod. It didn't help that A) it's heavy - 10.4 oz with a D12-3 and B) the launch rod goes through the body...there is a launch lug that extends from the base all the way to the nose shroud. Both factors resulting in slower takeoffs.

I'm not sure if I'm going to attempt another flight after it's repaired.

FCGrid fins didn't help, huh?

Don't worry, I'm going to post one. Just need to fetch the pics out of the fixer tray and let them dry...

[UPscaler]

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/IMG_8252.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/LDRS26_7-16-07_RAL_CATO-MarkHayes-B.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/LDRS26_7-16-07_RAL_CATO-MarkHaye-1.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/LDRS26_7-16-07_RAL_CATO-MarkHaye-2.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/LDRS26_7-16-07_RAL_CATO-MarkHaye-5.jpg


M3000 purple EX motor.... Photos Courtesy or Ray Lapnse..
Mark,
Did you make that motor or fly it? or both?



Braden

[atxcple]

this is my eight motor (38mm core and 7 29mm outboard)cluster a Vaughn brothers WILD THING 5.56 inch diameter from LDRS 21 in texas. only 3 of 8 lit. the core and two outboards on the same side...


54063

54064

54065

it has since been rebuilt and flown a couple of times....

[Fishhead]

This is my FSI Viking 5 clone at NARAM 53 last week. Not sure if this still counts as a first flight or not.;):D Motor was an Estes E9-6. Now it's a hollow tube.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/002-1.jpg

Glamour shot.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/006-3.jpg

Ignition.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/007-1.jpg

Doing the Sgt. Hulka imitation. ("BLOWED UP, SIR!")

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/008.jpg

Continuing to blow up.

[LW Bercini]

My buddy Gary's near-prang experience

http://s343.photobucket.com/albums/o464/glbyrum/Rocket%20Flights/?action=view&current=Sorcerercrash.mp4

[MarkII]

My buddy Gary's near-prang experience

http://s343.photobucket.com/albums/o464/glbyrum/Rocket%20Flights/?action=view&current=Sorcerercrash.mp4I have no videos of it, of course, but that flight almost exactly mimics my first-ever model rocket launch in 1967. It was with my just-built Astron Alpha. My friend and I brought my Electro-Launch over and very carefully set it up in what would eventually become "our" rocket range. We picked a location based upon prevailing wind patterns and to maximize the recovery area so that we would not overfly the field. We did it just as we were supposed to do, which I suppose was not bad for a pair of 13 year olds who had never even heard of the hobby three months earlier and who were proceeding in the total absence of adult guidance. We just went with our guts, supplemented with a little bit of common sense. After elaborate preparations, mounting anticipation and a full 10-second countdown, I pressed the button for the very first launch of a model rocket that either one of us had ever seen. Instead of woosh-pop, it was woosh-plop. My Alpha didn't lawn dart, thankfully; it landed on its side, breaking a fin fillet. My rocket fully ejected its recovery system while it was moving at a speed of 0 fps, right at perigee.

The motor that I used for that flight was the 1/2A.8-2 from my Deluxe Starter Set. In the aftermath I sent Estes an immediate order for some B6-4s, and I launched all of my rockets except my Sprite on nothing but B6 motors (and one C6) from then until the end of my first active period in the hobby. (It took me 34 years to launch my second-ever C. :lol: )

From this very auspicious start, a 44-year infatuation was created.

[MarkII]

... it is the first launch of the year,

... you haven't launched a rocket in over 6 months,

... so you're a little rusty,

... and consequently, without thinking it through, you stuff 4 sheets of wadding into your cardstock rocket?
















https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4IpJ7zlaOkY/Tjn5UeaVhiI/AAAAAAAABD8/0rBQf_6QxU0/s720/DSCF1176.JPG

[Gary Byrum]

The motor that I used for that flight was the 1/2A.8-2 from my Deluxe Starter Set. In the aftermath I sent Estes an immediate order for some B6-4s, and I launched all of my rockets except my Sprite on nothing but B6 motors (and one C6) from then until the end of my first active period in the hobby. (It took me 34 years to launch my second-ever C. :lol: )

From this very auspicious start, a 44-year infatuation was created.

It was my bad call on proper motor size for this near disaster. Having a small field and it being a maiden launch played a part in it as well. In the video, it looks like it all hits the ground but what really happened is the ejection charge went off probably 1/2 inch from impact and blew the airframe section away from the nose. There was absolutely no damage to the rocket and the nose had a little dirt on it.

[stickershock23]

stickershock - is that jean NV?

yep LDRS 23?


Mark,
Did you make that motor or fly it? or both?



Braden

I built the rocket, my partner built the motor. we tested 5 or 6 small ones they all worked good. We believe the AP we got was bad stuff.
the particle size was way smaller than it was supposed to be so it over pressurized..

[Wayco]

I think this is the most spectacular CATO I have ever seen:

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z317/metalwizard23/LDRS26_7-16-07_RAL_CATO-MarkHaye-5.jpg

Just makes me glad I'm not ready to venture into the experimental motor world yet.

[Aksrockets]

Lawn darts count!
Have no fear, the rocket is okay.
GFUGkCYhNIA&feature=plcp&context=C3b0874bUDOEgsToPDskLFf70yKP0zrbIpt3OJwg6M

[MarkII]

Lawn darts count!
Have no fear, the rocket is okay.
...3....2....1.....

rrrrRRROOOAAAaaaaarrrrrr.......................... ........Doink! :D

[gdjsky01]

Counting from where I thought burnout was... yup... about a 10. :eyeroll:

[rdbones]

Over Pressure

[Cosmotiger]

No pics, but my Custom Rockets SAM-X taught me how masking tape motor retention works. The tape around the booster motor was not tight enough, so when the booster motor ignited, it slid up and out of the booster stage, still taped to the sustainer motor.

:y:This is apparently not a stable configuration for a rocket. It turned 90 degrees in midair and flew horizontally, directly toward the woods on the edge of the field. It staged nicely, still flying horizontally. In the far distance, I saw the chute pop, and it dropped somewhere in the woods.

I did a nice airbrushed camo paint job on it, I wish I would have gotten a picture first.

[DRAGON64]

My 1st attempt at TRA Level III on a HyperTEK M960, circa Summer 2005:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckohj0VVKZU&feature=plcp&context=C44bc031VDvjVQa1PpcFMEQwjeVMIwPLkC0TYBeG4I sCQQywsTREM%3D

[DRAGON64]

I build good fincans... This was a Rocket Dynamic Systems Quasar... Charges were too weak as I used Pyrodex mixed with BP... a formula for failure. Classic Wal Mart Bag recovery.

[chadrog]

This is what remained of my first attempt at dual deploy recovery. Was also my L1 certification rocket, a LOC Lil' Diter. Everything above the transition-turned-AV bay is still firmly planted at Bong State Rec. Area. A poor choice for securing the battery caused loss of power = lawn dart. Has since been rebuilt from the fins up, didn't even scratch that paint!

[Fishhead]

Geez, here I go again.......

Saturday's excitement from the TORC Launch in South Charleston, Ohio. My first launch of the day is my USS America clone. Over five years in the making with Moldin' Oldies nose cone and an assortment of Quest, Semroc and BMS parts spread throughout the rest of the bird. This was supposed to be the first of three flights for the USS America on the day, a C11-3, followed by a D12-3, finishing up with an E9-4.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/038-2.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/037-1.jpg

This is what I get for planning:

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/054.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/055.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/056.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/057-1.jpg

The only things left in the body tube were the adapter and engine block, along with a charred 1 1/2 inch length of the motor tube and a delaminated, twisted and charred centering ring.:( If you hold it up and look through the body tube in the sunlight, you can see the sun shining in.:shock:

[Fishhead]

For the last flight of the day, I decided on a test flight of my 75% finished Centuri Design Contest X-Wing Fighter.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/CenturiDesignContestX-WingFighter.jpg

Heavy sigh....

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/CenturiX-Wingignition.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/CenturiX-Wingliftoff.jpg

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/CenturiX-WingC6-3CATO.jpg

Scorched the primer and broke off a cannon tube, but no internal damage.
So much for clean living.

[gdjsky01]

For the last flight of the day, I decided on a test flight of my 75% finished Centuri Design Contest X-Wing Fighter.


Were those both C11s? :y: :surprised: :jaw:
So sorry for your loss. Those are/were fine birds

[scsager]

77514

I want to build this again bigger and better... someday.

First flight - motor block fail - motor exits by flying up through the airframe.

oVSkCxDhHtY


Last flight - weak ejection balistic re-entry

443TVgwtRdI

[Fishhead]

Were those both C11s? :y: :surprised: :jaw:
So sorry for your loss. Those are/were fine birds

No, the USS America was a C11. The X-Wing was the tried and true C6-3. The X-Wing will definitely fly again, and would have today if I hadn't put off fixing the wing cannon. The USS America might just be toast. Things must have gotten pretty hot inside that body tube. Not a great pic, but it will give you the idea of what's left inside the main tube.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/CoredoutUSSAmerica.jpg

This is all that was left to pull out of the body tube, and it about six inches in. There were some scraps of one centering ring, but those were so scorched that they fell apart when I tried to straighten them out.

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l529/rmortis/AllthatremainsoftheUSSAmericaenginemount.jpg

[JStitz]

The remains of a Vaughn Bros Javelin and a 480 case after an I-300 cato..I didn't bother cleaning the liner out.

[gdjsky01]

A Vagabond and an E12 flying with style, panache, and grace
:wink::flyingpig:



http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7110/7433815254_b4b9054ce9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgortatowsky/7433815254/)
2012-06-23-SCRA-0052.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgortatowsky/7433815254/) by InDanaPt (http://www.flickr.com/people/jeffgortatowsky/), on Flickr




http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7263/7433816722_04353fc563_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgortatowsky/7433816722/)
2012-06-23-SCRA-0053.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgortatowsky/7433816722/) by InDanaPt (http://www.flickr.com/people/jeffgortatowsky/), on Flickr




http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/7433819422_c681ed1f5e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgortatowsky/7433819422/)
2012-06-23-SCRA-0055.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeffgortatowsky/7433819422/) by InDanaPt (http://www.flickr.com/people/jeffgortatowsky/), on Flickr

[Sully]

Well, this isn't the biggest failure, but perhaps the most amusing LPR mishap we've had: Estes Alpha 3 gets hung up on the launch rod, attempts to burn a hole in the blast deflector, then ejects the parachute up and snags it on the top of the launch rod like it's a grappling hook and the rocket wants to climb up and make an escape. It's just determined to reach the sky somehow, I guess.

Photo by KennB, taken at MMMSC launch last year.

87935

[Barracuda]

87954My "Orange crush" 2"mailer tube on a D12-5,ejection burnt the shock cord came in ballistic and hit the aluminum bleachers the nc and chute came in nice and slow,after repair it was more stable and flew better..those mailer tubes are tough...flew it yesterday as a matter of fact on a E18-4w

[awseiger]

2 Days before my first Dual Deployment Attempt, and I'm playing with Pyrodex Ejection charges (I'm 19, so I can't get BP. Curses...) and I made the discovery that containment helps it burn. So I decided to contain in CPVC pipe hot-glued in both ends...

Needless to say my brand new, never flown hot rod Buffalo DD Suffered 99 problems, and a breach was one.

8796287963

Of course this is the attempt I had my parents watch. The nosecone didn't even budge....

[gdjsky01]

Of course this is the attempt I had my parents watch. The nosecone didn't even budge....

Nice... talk about a double whammy! :(
Having your parents watch is not a good idea until proven otherwise... ;)
(Can you tell I have cats and not kids?)

[cwbullet]

Phantom 4000. Loved that kit, many good flights on F101, G55, and clusters. A few 5x D12 flights, to date still my most complex clusters. This last flight was on a G55, and the nosecone was too tight. Should have continued to sand it. Ballistic from 500 feet, nosecone stuck about 2 feet down into sod. Looked like one of those cartoon cannons that got plugged and blew up in daffy duck's face.

It looks like elmer fudds gun.

[chadrog]

2 Days before my first Dual Deployment Attempt, and I'm playing with Pyrodex Ejection charges (I'm 19, so I can't get BP. Curses...) and I made the discovery that containment helps it burn. So I decided to contain in CPVC pipe hot-glued in both ends...

Needless to say my brand new, never flown hot rod Buffalo DD Suffered 99 problems, and a breach was one.

8796287963

Of course this is the attempt I had my parents watch. The nosecone didn't even budge....

Containment yes, encapsulation, no. You basically made a firecracker. Container with pyrodex, some cellulose packed down onto it, sealed up with a few strips of masking tape- that's all you need.

[The Rocket Kid]

87972
my mean machine @ daire aire this year on an E9-4 that decided to blow up on me.
More to follow:sigh:

[LW Bercini]

Kevin Boyd captured this D12 cato at a SoAR launch on January 26, 2013

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8418968250_e102fdffc0_b.jpg

[qquake2k]

Holy moly! That was only a D12???

[Davidtmp]

That is one heck of a pick! And I agree with Jim!

[Pem Tech]

Hmmmm...
Need to dig in the photo archives....

[Pem Tech]

Kevin Boyd captured this D12 cato at a SoAR launch on January 26, 2013

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8418968250_e102fdffc0_b.jpg


WOW!

[rocketgeek101]

Kevin Boyd captured this D12 cato at a SoAR launch on January 26, 2013

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8418968250_e102fdffc0_b.jpg

Wow! I bet you'd find that picture next to the word "destruction" in the dictionary

[GregGleason]

That is one of the BEST CATO pics ever! You can actually see the thrust ring in the debris cloud. Amazing shot.

Greg

[Andy Greene]

Here is a shot Roger Smith got of my D-Region Tomahawk's first flight on a failed E9-8 last Dec @ TTRA Tampa.

http://i47.tinypic.com/hrxbur.jpg

Andy

[Joe V]

Wow, I've never seen a black powder motor spewing out flaming chunks of propellant! Thought that was reserved for larger motors.

[tightwad]

"The best CATO picture goes to.....Kevin Boyd":clap::clap: Damn impressive, I may add.

[Spicer007]

116125

HyperLoc 300, CATO'd on first flight, rear closure failure, rebuilt, modified and flying again... :grin:

116126

[cwbullet]

Kevin Boyd captured this D12 cato at a SoAR launch on January 26, 2013

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8418968250_e102fdffc0_b.jpg

D12? Was the tube packed with nitrocellulose?

[5x7]

<img src="http://www.rocketryforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=116125"/>

HyperLoc 300, CATO'd on first flight, rear closure failure, rebuilt, modified and flying again... :grin:

<img src="http://www.rocketryforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=116126"/>

What motor was that?

[Spicer007]

The motor was a 38mm CTI H225-14a. CTI replaced the casing, adapter and motor.

[Leo]

This morning at the field :eyepop:

http://www.altduino.de/images/forums/ALTDuino-Rocks!_CATO.jpg

The whole sequence caught on video:

qS1j0qcoW3Q

[sandman]

This morning at the field :eyepop:

http://www.altduino.de/images/forums/ALTDuino-Rocks!_CATO.jpg

The whole sequence caught on video:

qS1j0qcoW3Q

Luckily I did save your decal file and this time I remembered where I put it!

[bill2654]

This morning at the field :eyepop:

http://www.altduino.de/images/forums/ALTDuino-Rocks!_CATO.jpg

The whole sequence caught on video:

qS1j0qcoW3Q
Awsome video....sorry about your rocket though. Wish I knew how to edit videos like that.

[3stoogesrocketry]

NOT my video , but great just the same
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8qkUB5ueD0

[RocketflierVB]

My 4" Der Red Max vs a slab of Concrete...

124233124234124235

[dickmoran]

I made the mistake of using only engine deployment in this GPS radio test. I did not have enough time to install the new Raven3 and the ejection wiring. The 3.5 lb rocket flew sort of nice on a CCI G78-15 but the whole flight from start to finish was 15 seconds. The motor ejection blew .5 sec after "landing". The whole rocket went in just as you see. The Raven3 was still working and the GPS radio had a broken battery wire or it would have still been sending. The only loss was the battery, and the av bay case which had to be cut in half to remove the hardware. I really lucked out. Once the video is cut down I will post on YouTube. The camera survived also. The video shows the whole flight looking at the back of the rocket which was looking down at the beginning and up at the sky through the remainder of the flight. As the rocket hit earth you can see the ejection charge puff out the rear of the rocket .5 seconds later. If the front had not been buried it may have separated the rocket while stuck in the ground.
Dick
NAR 6306 L1
Tri 14074 L1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe7eG_vYhvA

[droopy]

Several years ago, as I was first dabbling in dual deploy, someone recommended that I use a new, fancy battery holder rather than the caveman zipties I used... Well, umm, the new holder failed to hold the battery. No battery, no altimeter. No altimeter, no deployment...

The red tracking chalk on the snow made it look like a murder scene... :)

John
TRA 11511 L3

124355124356