The flight was sub-optimal but successful. The rocket shed some weight at launch by dumping the onboard camera onto the ground at the pad. Then the motor case was ejected from the rocket because of several issues:

• The retention cap was too deep (tall) making the motor nozzle recessed and this caused the plastic orifice to melt.
• Not a positive connection between the motor and the retention cap
• No spacer trapping the case between the retention cap and ring

The rest of the flight was perfect, with the chute release set for 600 feet and opened without issue.

This was an expensive lesson to learn. I always wondered why there was a ring in the retainers I saw online. Now I know. :(

The rocket and camera were recovered successfully.