Malfunctioning Engine Statistical Survey
M.E.S.S.

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Manufacturer
Estes Industries
Designation
A8-3
Type
single-use
Date code
1781
Failure date
Oct 10, 2020
Location
Barber Airfield, Alliance, Ohio
Temperature
70 ℉
Casing split
Other failure
description
Explosive casing split resulting in destruction of rocket.
Comments
While assisting with a Cub Scout troop launching with our club (MTMA - NAR #606) we witnessed several scouts suffer from catastrophic motor failures. I did not get photographs of their rockets, but the two I saw, had the entire motor mounts blown open/apart. I asked if they had recovered the remains of the motors, but they said that the motors were not found afterwards. Three motors, all from the same bulk pack box of 24 failed. The remainder launched successfully. The scout leaders thought that the motors had been stored properly, but that could not be determined with absolute certainty.
Status
pending