If you are interested in the exact cause of the MOSFET failure, take a look at this Web page:
http://www.4qd.co.uk/serv/MOSFETfail.html
Especially look under the section entitled dV/dt failure--it probably describes your situation perfectly.
Also, while most MOSFETs fail open, occasionally one can fail shorted, which would apply continuous power to your motor. Because the motor was not drawing enough current to either burn out the shorted MOSFET or trip the circuit breaker, the motor continued to operate.
Eldarion
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