Well, it had to happen sometime. I'm just bummed it happened on the maiden voyage of this great looking 3" diameter scratch built rocket. Flew it on an F50-6T motor and it started out awesome. Was with my father in-law, wife and kids at his farm, and when that thing took off, it got a big WOW! from everybody. Great flight, slight cock into the wind after it gained some altitude, eased over at apogee and looked like the ejection should hit right on time. Started down, and down, and down and uh-oh! After inspection, it looks like the ejection charge fired, but was very weak. There was very little residue in the baffle mesh (Aerotech style baffle) or in the body tube and about half the paper 'cap' was still on the top of the motor. I don't feel that the nose cone and chute were too tight, and I do feel that the 6 second delay time was correct based on when it reached apogee. As for the damage, it is pretty much totaled. The nosecone was pushed back into the upper body tube and about two-thirds of the shoulder of the nosecone is crumpled. I may be able to cut this off and use a bulkhead to salvage the nosecone. Upper body tube, and coupler are trashed. On the plus side, my fins held up well. This being my first larger rocket and first time using epoxy, I was impressed with the way the fins held together. The fin can may be able to be salvaged, but I am not sure there is enough of it left above the fins/upper centering ring to add a coupler to repair. Anyway, guess it's time to call Ross at Magnum and rebuild. The worst part is, the only pictures I will have are after the crash. I didn't take any before I flew it 'cause I didn't want to jinx it.
Bob
Bob