I tried your plane, it doesn't explode, but sometimes it stopped and doesn't work.
I think it occurs when propeller pitch is high, propeller's collision hits base of the propeller.
When using manual pitch control, this will not happen, but there is another solution. Set pitch control to Manual, pitch to +90%, pitch range scale to 0%. Then change pitch control to Fixed. It looks like pitch is neutral, but it actually works as +90% pitch.
I think it is another bug. Sometimes it also improves acceleration, but sometimes not. I hope it will help you.

@Seeras I tuned another project for the race. Slowest, but never midair crash when start as opponent. :( Sad, but inevitable. One/two second slowest. I hope the bug will be corrected.

@Baldovino
Same by me.. thats frustrating.

Is not related with counter rotating props nor with distance between props, nor with diameter of props... but with nudge, I fear. And I cant eliminate it. My props are not in "common" place... :( And I cant start a new project, this one took me weeks.

Same here.
I put a lot of time in my plane and now it makes: boom.. (on the right spawn)

@Seeras We've got the same problem. Fixed it by positioning the rotors slightly further away from each other. No problems since then. The T1000 also needs to be placed in a fuselage no bigger than 1x1 and the diameter has to be above 100 inches. I am working with 120 inches and above, which works just fine. I've also made a video with a simple experimental plane to show the issue and how to work around it here. :)

Same. Don't know what the error is but I have suspected clipped parts

I noticed this on a couple prototypes. I think it's related to the propeller pitch. Try increasing the distance between the props.

@AndrewGarrison
@PhillipTarpley

@Baldovino
Same with mine, this may be a problem the devs should look at before the tournament.

@MediocrePlanes yes, it have.

Does your plane have contra-props?