SASless,The failure occurs on the blade root (where the bearing sits). Under the bearing, cracks are developing, causing failure. The failed blade root causes the blade to fly off, causing terrific imbalance in the TRGB, which then causes separation of the entire gearbox. The damage to the trailing edge comes from flying thru the main rotor and impacting ground. Inspections are now being conducted at the blade root, under the elastrometric bearing. Actually the bearing has to be removed. Anyone old enough to have flown the Bell 206 when it first came out can certainly remember the main rotors (TT straps), or the SK 76 hand greenade engines, they have turned into outstanding, safe aircraft, as this one will, it's a "A" model, it will have growning pains.
Last edited by tcvennen; 7th May 2011 at 19:35.