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Old 4th Dec 2012, 09:11
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blakmax
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
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Blade failure?

I'm almost with you Mhale71. I have been directly involved in one crash of an R44 and in that case when one blade failed catastrophically the other blade suddenly carries all the load and rises. In the case I dealt with, the failed blade did not separate entirely so the spar which was still attached flailed the tail boom and the boom failed. There was significant evidence of disbonding (delamination?) within the blade structure (confirmed by the NTSB) and the IIC concluded that this was the most probable cause of the crash.

I do not see any evidence of any remnants of either blade in the photo and I do not see any distortion of the boom. So, unless there was a simultaneous separation of both blades, I think the failure is further down the mast or in the attachment of the rotor head to the mast. Anecdotal reports indicate that cockpit strikes may also occur after failure of one blade. I do not see that in the picture.

Regards

Blakmax
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