Would not the "gravity force" be the same in all phases of flight in that "gravity" is a constant. The "bending" moment on slowly turning or stationary blades would be much greater due to the lack of centrifical force (or is it centrifugal /centripedal force).
Nick...did you and Lu ever figure out what to call that "force"?
"Air Pockets" usually describes the contents of a helicopter pilot's pockets.