Odd occurrence at CRMRC

Here's something to ponder while we are all waiting for rain! It occurred yesterday at the CRMRC launch in St Albans. It was a great day, temps in the 40's, sunny in the morning and no wind! Howard, Jim and Liz, and Sam Fineberg were also there.

Here are all of the info I have!

LaserLoc 313 rocket (picture below)
Aerotech H242-14A motor (using 54/38 adapter)
StratologgerCF with default settings (Program 3)
2’ drogue at apogee, 4’ chute at main
RockSim predicted altitude - 1100ft

Also in use:
Missle Works RRC2 altimeter set for apogee 1 sec for drogue; 800’ for main
Upon arming at the launch pad, both altimeters went through their normal procedures. StratologgerCF reporting continuity for both drogue and main charges (i.e. 3 beeps).

Flight was a lot lower than predicted.
Nose cone ejected first with main chute, a second charge was heard just after. Just after that the rocket separated and drogue came out. Rocket landed safely.

What is known.
Both main charges fired; neither drogue charge fired; rocket separated via motor ejection charge.
StratologgerCF reported 709’ for apogee.
RRC2 reporting did not match what manual says should be reporting.
Wiring of both altimeters was correct (i.e.  main charges to ‘main’; drogue charges to ‘drogue’).
Continuity of drogue charge e-matches were checked after the flight and both are good.
Have contacted both Perfectflight and Missle Works; have not hear back from either as of yet.

Why did the drogue charges not fire?

 

Neither altimeter reported an error code and I haven't looked at the Stratologger's fight data yet. If it does show anything, I'll report back. Nothing yet from either Perfectflight or Missle Works.

The batteries for both altimeters were 2 cell, 450mAh, by Tattu; both fully charged before launch. Both switches were screw switches by Featherweight.

I did hear back from Jim Amos of Missle Works. According to Jim - "I can't speak to why both of the drogue charges failed?  It also sounds like the RRC2+ got interrupted and did not persist an apogee value."

There is no way to look at the flight data with the RRC2+, and I haven't had the time yet to look at the StratologgerCF data. I haven't heard anything yet from PerfectFlight.

On a related note - the e-matches I'm using (purchased on E-bay a few years ago, and made in China) retain their conductivity after firing. I'm not sure if that is common knowledge, but it's new to me.