Ez2cDave
Well-Known Member
There was a good description of it on the Tripoli Forum that we prepared from descriptions provided by the students. The summary is that they used an acceleration triggered timer for staging and then inserted a parachute using a sledgehammer and wooden block. There was no switch for the electronics so the electronics were directly connected to the battery while the rocket was horizontal, in clear violation of the Safety Codes. The timer triggered during the pounding and lit the sustainer motor (P or Q research motor). The students were all clustered around it trying to get it assembled to launch when it ignited. They reported seeing smoke jetting from various ports and some of them turned to run.
I was maybe a quarter mile away. A couple of the guys I was with were just on their way to check and see how the students were doing because it was getting late in the day for the high altitude waiver. They had just gotten into the truck when I heard a loud whump from the students’ direction. Others said they heard the motor launch, but all I remember hearing was that sickening whump sound. When I looked toward them all I could see was a cloud of smoke and dust with a cluster of students. The guys I was with took off in the truck. We all feared the worst, but fortunately the injuries were very minor.
Steve,
From your description in another thread, this sounds like the Q motor incident you referred to, earlier in this thread.
Dave F.