[Angus]

I've finally managed to fly my helicopters like they should be , I'm by no means a 3d pilot but loops, rolls etc. I have figured out.

I can hear the stresses on the main blades if I pull out of a maneuver hard and was wondering from the Heli Gurus if there is a time when you should just toss the main blades for safety sake?

thanks for any info

Angus

[Max]

Originally Posted by Angus

I've finally managed to fly my helicopters like they should be , I'm by no means a 3d pilot but loops, rolls etc. I have figured out.

I can hear the stresses on the main blades if I pull out of a maneuver hard and was wondering from the Heli Gurus if there is a time when you should just toss the main blades for safety sake?

thanks for any info

Angus

It depends on the construction of the blades. And how big they are.

Woodies were the most dangerous. They delaminated, or the covering stripped and blew off. Cracks developed at the root where the blade bolt passed through. Inspection was difficult if the blade was heat shrunk.

Fiberglass blades were better, but also suffered from tensile stresses imparted by the centrifugal force at the blade grip. 450 size blades with the small bolt and high head speed suffered the most from this problem. This was mitigated by adding (Gluing) a larger brass or aluminum bushing into the blade grip to distribute the tensile load better. The key here is to keep inspecting the blade near the grips for stress cracks. As long as there are no cracks, your blades are good.

CF blades are the best. Again. like Fiberglass, it all depends on how they were constructed and how big the bushing is to distribute the tensile forces by the blade bolt. If they are good quality and have a good size bushing, these blades will last indefinitely. But by all means, ALWAYS inspect the blades as part of your preflight :tu:

[Angus]

Thanks Max, using all CF branded Blades only, 500 to 770 size

as stated regular inspections

AM

[tskca]

+1 with Max

There has been threads on this topic. Some manufacturers suggest replacing blades every season. lol. More realistically, just inspect them, after cleaning. Don't let them sit in the sun or get too hot while transporting them. There are blades covers available (which I have and never have used).

[stikflyer]

I usually crash before the blades have any chance of wearing out.

[Keyrigger]

Another good tip is to see how the modern blade is constructed. Beefing up the root area is a good step but another is a safety wire that is part of the entire blade length. The design usually has the wire start with it wrapped around the bolt area and continue in one piece right out to the blade tip. In the event of a crash or other failure (I have one blade that looked ok after a slight contact with the ground but was split lengthwise around the middle at the leading edge), the blade will not separate from the grip even if it was fractured at the root. I have a good example of that from a crash where one blade was intact and the other destroyed at the root but it was still attached to the grip. I am just like the poster above as I crash before ever wearing a set out.

Don

[Max]

Originally Posted by Keyrigger

Another good tip is to see how the modern blade is constructed. Beefing up the root area is a good step but another is a safety wire that is part of the entire blade length. The design usually has the wire start with it wrapped around the bolt area and continue in one piece right out to the blade tip. In the event of a crash or other failure (I have one blade that looked ok after a slight contact with the ground but was split lengthwise around the middle at the leading edge), the blade will not separate from the grip even if it was fractured at the root. I have a good example of that from a crash where one blade was intact and the other destroyed at the root but it was still attached to the grip. I am just like the poster above as I crash before ever wearing a set out.

Don

I have never heard of that. but its a brilliant engineering idea!!

That doesn't mean to say its not in some of the blades I may already own. How does one find out if its built in? (And dont tell me I gotta crash it to find out...LOL )

[Keyrigger]

You can find out with a good powered magnet, like a rare earth variety. I just checked a set that I bought from Align and they have metal in the leading edge but it is not so much a wire but a weight for blade balance longitudinally. The Rotor Techs I own are equipped from root to tip with a solid wire. The Zeals, Edges, and Switch blades I own and have checked are all equipped with wires from root to tip. Seeing it in action give you piece of mind that blowing up a set of those blades reduces the likelihood of collateral damage to the public. Take care.

Don

[OICU812]

All modern CF blades have break away wires etc in them. Fly them till you crash lol. But seriously if you never crash just make observations of them, there really is no such thing as wearing out per say unless you fly where there is a ton of dust or airborne sand particles, then the front foil will in fact wear back.

[Angus]

Originally Posted by stikflyer

I usually crash before the blades have any chance of wearing out.

LOL what was thinking, I'm with you on that quote

AM