Originally Posted by
blakmax
I have a number of pictures of blade strikes on an R44 fin following a probable blade failure, so clearly the blade actually can reach there. From memory there were at least four strikes on the fin and several on the boom, each progressing forward. I guess it depends on how rapidly the blade departs the plane of rotation. Gradual, fin strikes then boom contact. Rapid failure may miss the fin altogether.
We're discussing an
attached blade severing the tailboom: it's highly unlikely that a blade departing the rotorhead is going to chip away at the tail fin and then come back forward to chop off the boom!
As crab@ said, the MRB will not reach the tail fin but will impact the tail boom at the point shown in the photo:
