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

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Manufacturer
Estes Industries
Designation
E9-4
Type
single-use
Date code
A 09 04 12
Failure date
Nov 28, 2015
Location
Essex Junction, VT
Temperature
35 ℉
Nozzle blown out
Ejection end blown out
Burning propellant ejected
description
Nozzle blowout: may be damaged nozzle from impact with launch pad; the casing is dented near the damaged nozzle.
Reported to mfr.
Have more motors
Comments
We were launching the engine in an Estes Mean Machine. Less than one second after ignition, before the rocket cleared the 5 ft launch rod, the propellant was blown out through the rocket tube and traveled between 100 and 200 feet from the launch pad. It burned up before landing. There was a hole (approx. 1 by 3 inches) blown through the side of the rocket at about the location of the upper end of the motor mount tube. The motor mount and casing were ejected from the back end of the rocket. To clarify "I still have this motor or others from the same pack," I still have the casing. The other motors from the same pack were launched without incident earlier this year - one in this same rocket.
Status
accepted