Comments
On 11/9 during our club launch (SPARC NAR section #626) I prepared and launched my Estes Commanche3 loaded with Estes motors as follows:1st stage D12-0, 2nd stage C6-0, 3rd stage C6-7. During first stage burn, the D12-0 CATOed, splitting the D12-0 case and damaging the first stage motor mount. I have picture of the motor casing and first stage damage. Interestingly enough, the CATO was sufficient to ignite the second stage and the flight finished without further incident, including recovery of the second and third stages. Examination of the second stage showed upward directed scortch marks from the first stage CATO. The best estimate is that the CATO occured about 1/4 to 1/2 of the normal flight time for the first stage.
