Originally Posted by slowrotor
The blade problems occur in just a few hundred hours leading me to suggest the problem is design. I think operation in turbulence is a problem.
Because the R-22 does not have lead/lag blade hinges. Normally a teetering head doesnt have lead/lag hinges, instead it is built heavy to absorb the lead/lag. The very lightly built R-22 has coning (flapping) hinges to relieve coning bending but nothing to relieve lead/lag stress resulting from the independent flapping in sharp turbulence.
Just my opinion on this rumor network. Until someone explains how the lead/lead hinges are not needed, that is what I think.
slowrotor
Lead/Lag hinges are not required because the two bladed design uses an underslung head. It is not 'built heavy' to absorb lead/lag. The coning hinges are not '(flapping hinges)'. A two bladed system with an underslung head Flaps about the teetering hinge and cones about the coning hinges. Lead/lag is compensated for by the underslung nature of the head.