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FROM YOUR BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON REPRESENTATIVE.
PRODUCT DATA
JANUARY 2003
MAIN ROTOR BLADES
The composite main rotor blade is hollow at the root [inboard] end which permits the
blade to fit over the yoke, with two attaching pins on the outboard end of the yoke to
carry the centrifugal loads. The blade spar is made of carbon/epoxy torque wraps around
fiberglass spar caps. The cuff that attaches to the blade at the bolt holes and extends
inboard to the pitch change adapter is also made from carbon and fiberglass. The afterbody
is a nomex core covered with fiberglass skin. Two trim tabs are bonded to each trailing
edge ( one inboard and one outboard ) to adjust for a out of track condition. The main
rotor blades have a rectangle planform with thickness that tapers down to 6% at the tip
to reduce noise. This thickness tapering reduces noise almost as much as a swept tip
does while retaining the simplicity of design and construction that helps control the
cost of a blade.
Parameters of the main rotor are:
Diameter
42 feet
[12.8 meters]
Blade chord
14.2 inches [0.36 meters]
Tip speed
765 ft/sec
[233 m/s]
Rotor speed
348 rpm
Each blade has a stainless steel leading edge abrasion strip with a nickel cap to
protect against erosion. The nickel cap, can be removed and replaced without removing
the stainless steel strip. Trim tabs are bonded to a sacrificial fiberglass strip so the tab
can be replaced in the field without damaging the blade skin. Provisions are made for
track and balance adjustments after repairs with access to the balance weight through
the blade tip. Balance weight pocket covers on the upper surface have been eliminated
to reduce corrosion and to enhance aerodynamics.
MAIN ROTOR BLADE CONSTRUCTION
Summary of Contents for BELL 430
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