This was the third launch attempt of the T series of motors. The motor was T-2, the second motor built and had been static tested twice. The T-1 motor had attempted two previous launches. The first launch of the T-1 motor resulted in a nozzle blow out, the second launch of the T-1 resulted in a top closure blow out and loss of the motor, (just could not be found). So this time I static fired the T-2 motor twice before attempting a launch.
The rocket air frame was built, and documented here http://www.thefintels.com/aer/body.htm as the rocket was constructed. There is some cruel irony here, but I'll get to that later. It was a perfect day for a launch, clear skies, mid 60's and wind around 5 mph.
Here is a series of photos from the launch.
3,2,1 launch!
Liftoff, rocket veers a bit to the right.
Now the flight straightens out, looks good...
I'm not sure, but it appears the rocket is starting to corkscrew.
I'm still not sure if it's rotating, or just odd wind layers.
Just about the end of the flight, the dark circle with the white spot is a fin that has broken off.
The flight is over, circled now is the body tube. At this point I went for cover, just in case!
Although I didn't get it on video, I watched the main body tube come down, heard the motor thump to earth at a different location, then heard the deployment charge go off, then watched the parachute drift down without a single line on it.
What went wrong? I believe at least one fin was lost during the end of the motor burn, possibly all of them. The rocket lost stability and then tumbled at high speed. The event occurred at 1.7 seconds into the flight, at an estimated altitude of 935' and a speed of about 623 feet per second. Either the tumble torn the remaining fins off, or they were all lost at the same time. Either way when the rocket went into the tumble, the nose cone was ejected at one end, and the motor from the other. The parachute was torn from its shroud lines.
After recovering the assorted parts, the body tube with the attached nose cone were in perfect condition. The deployment charge still went off after the body tube landed. Even the battery was still firmly in its holder. The motor was a more difficult find, but it was intact. The motor showed no signs of blow by at either end. Two of the fins were found, snapped cleanly off. The ironic part I mentioned earlier. I had just finished bragging about the fin joints being so strong in the body tube web page. Live and learn...
Click Here for the video of the flight.
Below is a photo of the recovered rocket, with no fins!
