Estes Puma CATO

[hermannj]

Had a rather unusual CATO on Saturday. This is the first I've had (or heard of) on a 13mm motor. I've reported to both https://www.motorcato.org/ and ESTES.

 

[mrichhcirm]

I have witnessed an a10-3 CATO once but never had it happen to me (yet). Trouble with A10s, I think, is that they are small and cheap and tend to rattle around loose in the range box and maybe aren't handled as carefully as they should be...combine that with a fast burn rate to begin with, and I could see how a small propellant crack causes a CATO.

 

[hermannj]

Now I'm not sure if I still have motors from the pack. Will the code be same on them? I would hate to build another one of these and have it meet the same fate.

 

[shreadvector]

I have witnessed an a10-3 CATO once but never had it happen to me (yet). Trouble with A10s, I think, is that they are small and cheap and tend to rattle around loose in the range box and maybe aren't handled as carefully as they should be...combine that with a fast burn rate to begin with, and I could see how a small propellant crack causes a CATO.

Rattling does not cause catos. Proven experimentally. See the numerous R&D reports.

To crack a grain, you must either hit it with a hammer or it must have a manufacturing defect, such as the "Year X" C5 motors. The centerbore tool was defective and produced a sharp edge/stress concentration that crackes after the motors cured. "Cured" = they press the powder damp and then they dry out or "cure" for a while.

 

[Rex R]

possibly temperature cycling caused the grain to separate from the casing.
Rex

 

[Daddyisabar]

I have had two 13 mm CATO'S over the years but still more reliable than the E9' s!

 

[Amsterdam]

Rattling does not cause catos. Proven experimentally. See the numerous R&D reports.

Source on numerous R&D reports?

I’ve had 2 a10-3t catos. I attribute the failures to mishandling. More than rattling around but far less than a blow with a hammer.