R44 tail rotor corrosion
 

What does everyone think of the below?- leading edge surface corrosion on an R44 tail rotor blade. AOG for now...new rotor blade on its way :ok:

Has anyone comes across this before? I may have been unlucky and perhaps struck a VERY LARGE fly, kicked up a small stone whilst hovering over loose ground, but nothing springs to mind.

Mmmmm
 

Show us a photo of your main rotors leading edge just to compare

HelHJ. I think you are very lucky to be alive. count your chickens !! get out of
Robbos.

The corrosion must have been there for some time before hole though

Wow. Are you sure it's not erosion rather than corrosion? As another said, how are the main blades?

would be having a serious word with maintenance company, that hasn't happened overnight !

Were you inspecting the tail rotor before every flight. Even daily on the check A? Did this appear overnight? Do you check after each flight?

Holes like that do not generally appear in three flying hours (max flying between refuels excl ferry tanks).

That is erosion not corrosion. R44 T/R blades are not that tough. I have seen holes appear at 400 hours on some aircraft. Seriously if you are actually checking your blades before each flight how could this be the maintenance companies fault? Get a grip. Robinson's are built to cost.

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Do you fly through rain alot

That black has been pretty freshly painted by the looks of the side opposite the red circle and the way the paint is flaking off, factory paint doesn't do that. I'd be very surprised if it's Robinson's fault, they do make a relatively soft tail rotor blade but they aren't designed to withstand continuous exposure to rocks or sand and operated in a normal environment, many blades will go to retirement. I think there's something that you, other pilots who fly the machine or the maintainers aren't telling us.

Looks just like ours did at 2000 hrs. They kept painting it for a while before it wore through but then we had to stick a new pair on perhaps 160hrs before rebuild. It didn't happen over night, we all knew about it long before they became u/s.

How many hours on it?

I've seem this before on aircrafts flown in sandy environment (i.e. beach), the sand will polish the metal until it erodes. I also believe to much flying in rain will cause that too.

Thx for all the comments.

To answer some q's:

1. The T/R was inspected by myself before the flight in which this erosion (I agree a more accurately worded description) occurred. At the time of insp, the blade paint was indeed showing signs of being 'rubbed off'; by what exactly I do not know, but no where near to the extent as can be seen in the picture.

2. This ac is not flown in sandy conditions and to the best of my knowledge, not overly exposed to rain where possible.

3. Without checking, I cannot confirm the hours this t/r blade is on.

It's a lesson learnt, thanks again, it's interesting to hear your opinions.

hHJ