I was told that another problem is that traditional Non Destructive Testing Techniques don't work on composites so finding voids in the structure or identifying cracks is much more difficult. Any gurus know what techniques are being used nowadays?
There are some new techniques for composites NDT. The first one that comes to my mind is active thermography. The tested element is heated/illuminated with a strong light source and observed with an infrared camera. Internal defects like delaminations, etc.. are becoming visible, because they are affecting the way the material heats up/cools down.
Arrakis
PS. What about other AW helicopters tailbooms?