What happens if a helicopter loses a blade?
Helicopters rely on rotor blades for lift, stability, and maneuverability, making them one of the most critical components of the aircraft. When a rotor blade fails, the helicopter can lose control, enter an uncontrollable spin, or experience structural failure, often leading to catastrophic crashes. Victims may suffer from broken ribs, arms, legs, or pelvis. These injuries can be extremely painful and may require surgery to repair. Internal injuries. Helicopter crashes can cause serious internal injuries, such as organ damage or internal bleeding.
Why are helicopter blades long?
The blades of a helicopter are long, narrow airfoils with a high aspect ratio, a shape that minimizes drag from tip vortices (see the wings of a glider for comparison). Helicopter rotor blades are no longer made out of wood, rather they’re made out of composite materials to maximize their strength to weight ratio.