PedroTheRocketNerd
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2019
- Messages
- 50
- Reaction score
- 7
Today I had an interesting recovery failure. I was test-flying my 4" scratch-built Nike-Smoke payloader on an Aerotech G78G-4 LMS. The takeoff was perfect, but instead of deploying the chute just after apogee, it lawn-darted into the ground. I checked out the wreckage and launch footage, and I discovered that although the ejection charge had gone off, the red cap that holds it in place was still there, and neither the rocket's interior or recovery wadding were sooty or charred. It seems as if the charge went off, but instead of popping off the red cap and deploying the chute like it was supposed to, the cap got stuck and the gases were vented out the back of the motor. Has this ever happened to anyone here? Is there anything I can do in the future during motor assembly to avoid this?
P.S. I am relatively new to the forum, so if this needs to be moved to something like Propulsion or Mid-Power Rocketry, please move it.
P.S. I am relatively new to the forum, so if this needs to be moved to something like Propulsion or Mid-Power Rocketry, please move it.