Van Horn Aviation | Composite Rotor Blades

206B Version 2 Main Rotor Blades

206b Version 2 Main Rotor Blades

Different by design

Same Composite Construction, Redesigned for Better Ride Quality

The VHA 206B Version 2 Main Rotor Blades use the same carbon fiber materials and construction methods as our initial 206B Main Rotor Blades, which received FAA STC/PMA in 2016, and 206B/L/OH-58 Tail Rotor Blades, which have been available as an STC/PMA aftermarket component since 2009. All of these blades feature corrosion-resistant carbon fiber skin and spars, an efficient NASA-designed laminar-flow airfoil, tapered tip, and leading-edge abrasion strips.

Benefits Retained from the Original

The main design difference between the initial 206B Main Rotor Blade (P/N 20631000-101) and Version 2 (P/N 20635000-501) is the carbon fiber ply count and orientation. Ply adjustment along with changes to the mass distribution provides a softer ride (similar to our 206L Main Rotor Blade). As of late 2022, the -501 main rotor blades also use tracking wedges instead of trim tabs for a more precise track and balance.

The service life of the 206B Version 2 Main Rotor Blade is 10,000 hours—twice the life of the OEM blade—with no required blade overhauls. The VHA blades use the identical installation configuration as the OEM blades, allowing direct replacement without hub modification. (Note that “direct replacement” does not mean interchangeable; a full set of VHA blades must be installed.)

VHA 206 Main Rotor Blades have been widely adopted in the field by single-ship and fleet operators worldwide. Some operators are reporting speed increases of up to 5 kts (especially when paired with the VHA Tail Rotor Blades), greater fuel efficiency, and ride as smooth or smoother than the OEM blades when flown at speed (above 40 kts). Visit our Customer Spotlights page to read more about what operators are saying about VHA Main Rotor Blades. For more information, read our 206B Main Rotor Blade READ ME FIRST document.

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206b Version 2 Main Rotor Blades

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Features

Better performance: more responsive, faster/saves fuel depending on mission
FAA STC/PMA; also certificated in Canada, Brazil, Colombia, and flying in dozens of other countries
10,000-hour service life (double the life of the OEM blade)
No overhaul required
Tracking wedges replace trim tabs for more precise track and balance.

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Efficient NASA RC(4)-10 laminar flow airfoil
Corrosion resistant composite materials
Lightning strike protection
Inconel (nickel-chromium alloy) and electroformed nickel abrasion strips provide leading edge fidelity and erosion protection
No new equipment needed for installation, tracking or balancing
Approximately same weight and dimensions as OEM blade
Each set shipped with set of tie downs and two blade crates.

Part Number and Pricing Information

The VHA 206B Version 2 main rotor blade is available through our Distributor network.

Part number: 20635000-501
Replaces Bell part numbers: 206-010-200-133, -137, -139, -145, -149, -151
Contact Distributors for availability and pricing

Dimensions

Length

188.0 inches from tip to end of grip plate

Chord

13.0 inches

Thickness

3.308 inches (at Grip Pads)

Warranty Information

Three-year/3,000 flight-hour warranty against manufacturing and material defects (excludes damage due to erosion)

Blade Track and Balance Information

Our VHA 206B main rotor blades are shipped in balanced pairs. However, static and dynamic balance may be performed in the field in accordance with the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness found on our Documents page.

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In late 2022, VHA stopped shipping main rotor blades with trim tabs. Part number 20635000-501 Serial Number A091 and higher use tracking wedges as the main source of track adjustment. Please refer to Technical Bulletin TB 20630000-2R3 for detailed information about using tracking wedges.

For 20635000-501 Serial Numbers A090 and lower, each main blade contains an outboard and an inboard trim tab for track and balance. These are shipped at zero degrees and many operators find they need little to no adjustment of either trim tab. If adjustment is needed, start with the outboard tab. Also, we recommend adjusting pitch links prior to adjusting the trim tabs. For more information, read our 206B Main Rotor Blade READ ME FIRST document. We also have published a supplemental document with balance procedures and best practices along with Technical Bulletin TB 20630000-2R3 which contains procedures for both trim tabs and tracking wedges.

VHA developed a trim tab zeroing (206C31412-13) tool to assist in track and balance procedures. For more information and PDFs of paper charts that can be used to balance VHA 206B main rotor blades, click here.