How to retrieve a video corrupted by Aperture?

Question

Hi,
Earlier today I exported a video from my Aperture library to my desktop, but I got an error message saying that the process did not complete and now the only thing that's left in Aperture is an image preview with a yellow triangle. Aperture says it cannot locate the reference file and there is nothing on the desktop either. I tried to explore the database, but the .mov file has gone from the masters folder. I tried to repair the database, but it did not work. I tried to use data recovery software, but they did not find any trace of that video. I am not using vaults. I looked on the Internet for similar cases, but could not find anything. The video was made from an iPhone 5, but I did not have an iTunes backup so I can't get it back that way. I tried anyway o recover data from the iPhone's flash memory, but the videos are gone. My last Time Machine backup does not include a copy of that movie either...
Can you please suggest how Aperture managed to corrupt my precious file through a failed export and how I might be able to retrieve that video? The original movie file must still be on the HD somewhere in one form or another.
For your information, I use Aperture 3.4.3, the library is 243GB large, the video I exported was 105MB. My MacBook Pro is running OS X 10.8.3. I've been using Aperture for about 2 years and never had this issue before.
Thanks

Answer 1

I have just opened a bug report. Here is the content for information:
Hi,
I would like to report a bug with Aperture 3.4.3. It is the same issue as reported by another user under reference case #13497037.
On 31/03/13, I exported a video out of Aperture. The file was originally created by an iPhone5 in full HD. Its name was IMG_159.MOV and it was 105MB large. I selected the file in Aperture and exported the original to a folder on the desktop based on the project name and version name. Aperture started the export process, but after a short while I got an error message saying that the export had failed. Immediately after the message, a yellow triangle appeared on the video and it will not play anymore.
Upon exploration of the library package, I can find the thumbnail, but the master has gone. I tried the 3 different option to fix the library without success. I tried the different options to reconsolidate masters, but Aperture just says no masters can be located. I then scanned my entire disk with a data recovery software (Wondershare Photo Recovery 3.0), but it did not find any deleted or active master file (it did correctly find the thumbnail in the library).
That video file was not backed-up yet so for the moment I have completely lost it, which is a problem as this was an important video.
Later on the same day I did 2-3 other exports in the same conditions and they worked fine.
Then, on 01/04/13, I exported another video also made from an iPhone5 in full HD called IMG_154.MOV that was 346MB large and that also included my preset IPTC metadata. The process failed exactly as described earlier and now that file is corrupted too and the master has disappeared.
I then tried to export another few videos in the same way and the problem has not occurred again yet.
I did not notice the size of my library going down and another complete computer scan with my data recovery software did not reveal any deleted files, so I do believe that the masters of my 2 corrupted videos are still hidden somewhere inside the library.
Can you please assist with the recovery of these masters. I have spent some time on the Internet and I have personally come across a few users who seem to have experiences exactly the same issue, so this is not an isolate problem. However, so far it has only happened randomly on my machine.
Thanks