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Mar 10, 2022 - Staying safe in the air during every season | Reliable helicopter rotor blade maintenance

We’re a helicopter parts supplier that has worked with many different clients, partners, and suppliers in the aviation industry. We help service aircraft back into the air safely and provide a variety of helicopter parts needed for a good repair. We only source and use certified and warrantied products sold at or below standard market value. 

To better understand the importance of helicopter blade maintenance, we’ll explore if helicopter blades change speed, how many revolutions per minute (RPM) it goes through, and how often they need to be provided maintenance.  

​​RotorLink Technical Services offers innovative solutions for all aspects of the rotor wing industry. We are committed to excellence and strive to consistently exceed your expectations. With clients all over Canada, US and Worldwide, RotorLink offers Bell helicopter spare parts for sale and Airbus/Eurocopter helicopter parts for sale to operators so there is no loss of productivity or reduction of services to their customers. 

Can Helicopter Blades Change Speed?

When a helicopter starts running and the rotor blades begin to turn, they usually don’t change speed to increase how fast they get in the air. This is because of two factors: life and torque. Helicopters produce a lot of throttles that can subtly cause some speed changes, but the pilot is in control when they take charge of the tail rotor. 

Helicopter blades are able to tilt the tail rotor to adjust lift without changing the amount of torque or force applied. The pilot will then spin the rotors up to a few seconds before takeoff, adjusting the blade pitch accordingly to fly off into the air. 

The rate of speed remains constant and the helicopter works by generating the upward-pushing force called lift to fly into the air and hover above ground when needed. As the helicopter shoots forwards, the rotor blades change the pressure and direction of the air, forcing it down behind and propelling the aircraft into the sky. The engine helps speed it forward while the rotor blades spin at a consistent speed. 

How Many RPM Does A Helicopter Blade Spin?

Helicopters move in the air by generating lift because of the force of air and special built-in capabilities in the blades themselves. Typically, a small helicopter will undergo around 400-500 revolutions per minute, or RPM, in a normal operation. For bigger helicopters, that number is reduced to around 225 RPM. The helicopter’s speed and distance often depend on the width and construction of the rotor blades. The rotor blades generate a massive downdraft of air that propels the helicopter upward. You would prefer the RPM of a helicopter’s blades to be at a comfortable level because if it’s too slow, it may not stay in the air, and if it’s too fast, a breakdown may be imminent. The higher the RPM, the higher the lift force levels. 

A skilled pilot that knows when to provide maintenance on the helicopter’s rotor blades can fly the aircraft however they wish. They can land vertically, hover or spin on one spot, or drift gently in any direction needed. The RPM and rotor speed ultimately control the helicopter’s lift. The pilot should maintain safe levels of RPM at all times and can change the lift force if the flight angle needs to change. 

Helicopter rotor blades need excellent maintenance performed on them in order to stay functional. 

How Often Do Helicopters Need Maintenance?

The amount of maintenance required to be performed on a helicopter varies on the size, type, and longevity of the aircraft itself. On average, in hourly intervals of 25, 50, 100, 150, 600, annual maintenance can be scheduled and conducted anytime a helicopter is flown. They can be done in between flight hours or as directed by the manufacturers of the aircraft. Such inspections and maintenance routines are always done by our qualified helicopter engineers and specialists. 

At RotorLink, we’ll talk as much time as needed to inspect different parts of the helicopter and evaluate its usage, durability, and integrity. We’ll follow hourly maintenance schedules and procedures as dictated by the helicopter’s manufacturer. The more often a helicopter is in flight, the more detailed an inspection becomes. The process can involve different helicopter parts being replaced or removed, making it more thorough than a regular visual inspection. 

Contact RotorLink now to have us inspect and perform maintenance on your Helicopter Rotor Blades today - get the right Helicopter Parts you need for your aircraft and start flying safely again!