description
Delay Bulkhead center burned or melted through axially from the base of the delay grain clear through the ejection charge cap, leaving a nozzle-like conical void through the full center of the aluminum delay bulkhead. Delay bulkhead remained in casing and forward snap ring remained in its groove. Delay bulkhead's silicone o-ring was still present in the hollowed-out delay bulkhead. The delay grain had NOT been drilled prior to launch, intending its full 14-second delay.
Comments
Rocket rose to approximately 500 feet when a blue flame halo could be seen exiting the middle of air frame. Rocket burned in half and separated into two sections. Upper portion returned under parachute, while the lower half fell to earth ballistic, embedding itself in the soft dirt about 100 meters northeast of the launch pads and opposite from spectators. No injuries were caused. Postmortem inspection of the Loki 38/1200 case revealed that the delay bulkhead had been completely burned through, vaporizing the delay grain, all 6 delay grain o-rings, and the ejection charge well. Remainder of motor appears undamaged.
