Exploding E9 Engines?

Preston Austin from the Model Rocketeers Facebook Page posted a video of an issue he was having where he says an E9 engine experienced a catastrophic failure.


Anybody else had any issues with them?

A few have, me included

They're more prone to 'temperature cycling' which is the presumed cause of them CATOing. It's presumed that the propellant nugget cracks and/or separates from the inner wall of the casing, causing the spectacular loss of said rocket..

this also may add to the conversation:

https://www.rocketryforum.com/showt...tes-E9-6-in-the-garage-circa-2004-safe-to-fly

Recently had an E9-6 with no ejection charge, lawndart. Estes Customer Service says E9 motors no longer being produced. Sending me a new kit! Thanks!

I have seen more E9's cato then actually work correctly.

I've never had an E-9 CATO. Ever

I've burned a couple dozen E9s over the years. I think I've had 2 or 3 CATOs on them, more than any other motor I've used. Key is to get new ones and keep them thermally stable. I do like the replacement E12 better though.

I've only had the E12's blow up on me. Though I've witnessed a couple of E9 failures.

CliffR said:

Recently had an E9-6 with no ejection charge, lawndart. Estes Customer Service says E9 motors no longer being produced. Sending me a new kit! Thanks!

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Recently had a E9 cato, got same message about E9's being out of production. They asked me is the rocket was repairable (which I said it could) and haven't heard anything since.

I'd buy a lottery ticket if I were you

MaxQ said:

I've never had an E-9 CATO. Ever

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I have flown 13 E9-4 motors in the last 10 years and none have catoed. I have flown 28 E9-6 motors in the last 10 years and had one cato. Certain date codes are more susceptible to catos and someone just published the list in another thread about E9 motors in the last two days.

Zeus-cat said:

I have flown 13 E9-4 motors in the last 10 years and none have catoed. I have flown 28 E9-6 motors in the last 10 years and had one cato. Certain date codes are more susceptible to catos and someone just published the list in another thread about E9 motors in the last two days.

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The full list that I have is as follows:


C11
A 11 08 10
A 06 28 11

E9
09-04-12
06-28-11
06-14-01 A
A 06 28 11 1
A 01 12 16
A 09 15 14
A 1-12-16

E12
A 08-18-11
A 08 18 11 (E12-0)
A 11 15 11 (E12-0 & others?)
A 04 02 12 (E12-8 & others?)
05-15-12
A 05 15 12 (cold temperature firing)

I always say "Stay away from the Bad Dates. . . and I ain't quoting the Indianan Jones movie!"

[video=youtube;0qIMTA4_YdU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qIMTA4_YdU[/video]

A brand new pack of E9's used in a three motor cluster, a two outta three CATO!. Blew Smaug's head clean off. Little did we know then of the 1-12-16 batch, the date which will live in infamy, a date so bad it is listed twice above. It takes some real MPR guts to fly these motors.

I had a simultaneous cato of both E9s during a recent parelell staging attempt

Holy Schnikeys! That AstroBlaster video is painful to watch.

Beautiful rocket powered glider one second... chaff the next!

[video=youtube;gS-tbiRozXk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=gS-tbiRozXk[/video]

Here is the aftermath of a single E9 CATO in a 3 X E9 and a 1 X F15 four motor cluster a few years ago. The central F15 did not ignite as the explosion blew away the nearest clip whip lead. Lawn dart. Rebuilt and flown again. It is just a scratch, it will buff right out!



BP motors can CATO at any time, you just have to prepare beforehand. One bad A 10 0 in a 12 motor staged cluster, no big deal.



18mm CATOS are very rare. 24 mm D and 13mm A are rare. I have not seen a 29 mm E or F blow.

lakeroadster said:

Holy Schnikeys! That AstroBlaster video is painful to watch.

Beautiful rocket powered glider one second... chaff the next!

[video=youtube;gS-tbiRozXk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=gS-tbiRozXk[/video]

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It is amazing what young people can do with those new fangled VCR cams these days! Gotta listen to "Tears in Heaven" and reminisce back to'92.

jimzcatz said:

I have seen more E9's cato then actually work correctly.

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Me too. I would like to know the actual number produced and the actual number of failures.

Daddyisabar said:

It is just a scratch, it will buff right out!

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That's the spirit!

lakeroadster said:

Holy Schnikeys! That AstroBlaster video is painful to watch.

Beautiful rocket powered glider one second... chaff the next!

[video=youtube;gS-tbiRozXk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=gS-tbiRozXk[/video]

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have to appreciate his composure though, the Astro blaster was a challenging build and from what we can tell he did a good job putting it together. Had it been me the Cato would have been immediately followed by copious amounts of swearing

I know there are some people who say that the E9 doesn't cato any more than any other BP motor, but I can say with confidence that the only BP motors that I have ever had cato personally are Estes E9.

If the reports on E-9s give us reliable stats - then the odds will catch up with me....eventually, - as I still have E-9s and intend to fly them, (just not in a prized rocket).

Over the years...fifty to be exact....the only BP motors I've had CATO are the first D12-3 I bought that destroyed my Maxi Brute V-2 on its very first flight in '75, and its third flight, after I repaired it :rant:

I had a C6-5 CATO in the sustainer that made for an interesting two stage flight on a Quest Navaho AGM....other than those...NADA. Been lucky I guess.

But then again, in composites.....I had a bad batch of SU Aerotech G-80s ...horribly weak plastic casing in that batch of SU G-80s - spectacularly destroyed the booster on my Cosmodrome Aerobee Hi ….not once but twice.
I only use reload G-80 -4s in the Aerobee - Hi booster now.
(The remining SU G-80s I'm saving for another episode of Thunderdome).

I wish I coudld count the numbe ri have expereinced or seen. I have had a pack of three go fine and then next all 3 go boom. No rhyme or reason.

markkoelsch said:

Me too. I would like to know the actual number produced and the actual number of failures.

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Agreed- I asked here a while back about that same thing - or even mess report totals. Its really a shame , its a great motor in many rockets when they work right.
I personally have lost 4 rockets before I quit beating my head against the wall. I will say , Estes has always been STAND UP when replacing stuff, Christine has even helped me out on a scratch build that got toasted.
My avatar says it all about E9s
That said Im working on my replacement PS II Nike Smoke right now from a failed F50-6 , so ya never know .

So much carnage...

Pretty much all you need to know is Estes has discontinued them. If they were profitable and reliable, they would still be selling them.

Well I have an E9-6 from 2004 or so I found in an old range box still in package I’m going to send up in an old beater, I’ll video the whole thing, and post it... hoping the weather clears tomorrow for a launch, the suspense is killing me...