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Old 11th Sep 2012, 22:16
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topendtorque
 
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Blades yes, intact - upright and not showing signs of over pitching What signs would you expect to see
Yes, an acute bend upwards at around up to one third the distance along the blade from the inboard end, caused by blade structure being unable to cope with drag vector in the stalled and rapidly descending mode (induced by no lift). Like breaking your elbow the wrong way, it will go with a snap. The Robinson safety course has a terrible video of this event in a R44. The blades stop rotating very quickly and if at altitude fold upwards as aircraft descends vertically. Pundits suggest anything below 82 to 85 % RRPM is liable to fail as such.This is why the collective must be monitored at all times as the primary control.

Heli Henri's picture is reasonably symbolic.but could have been from vertical downward forces.
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