Aviation Blade Services has been repairing Westland Sea King main and tail blades for over 15 years. The Westland metal blades are license-built blades of Sikorsky design. We utilize data and parts from Sikorsky blades to repair the Westland versions. For an example of pocket corrosion on Westland manufactured blades see Information Letter 2000-1 below.
| Main Rotor Blades: | WD01-29-90250 series |
| Main Rotor Blades: | WD4529-00002 series, WD0129-60069 series, WD0129-90069 series |
| Tail Rotor Blades: | WD4239-00010 series, WD4139-00003-041 |
Aviation Blade Services has converted the WD4229-00003-041 main blades to the S6115-20201-3 configuration for use on SH-3H aircraft. This conversion involves removing all the leading edge counterweights, re-arranging them to the proper location, replacing any unserviceable parts and re-installing the counterweights into the blade spar using a special built hydraulic puller. Re-installation of the cuff assembly and the tip dam seal is followed by helium leak detection.
Westland Composite Main Blade WD01-29-90250
Aviation Blade Services was approached to investigate how to improve the interchangeability of the Westland Sea King composite main blade p/s WD01-29-90250-041. The customer was experiencing difficulty in track and balance functions when replacing a single main rotor blade during maintenance functions and was having to keep the rotor blades in sets of 5 when replacing them. It was also noticed that the titanium abrasion strip was in very poor condition at the tip end of the leading edge.
ABS suggested that we bond an 8’ nickel abrasion strip over the titanium strip to protect the titanium strip from further damage during operations. ABS sanded the existing paint off of the rotor blade and re-painted the rotor blade to provide the blade with improved protection for years to come. The rotor blades were static balanced to specs providing interchangeability.
Westland Tail Blade WD4139-00003-043
Aviation Blade Services has developed a life extension to the 2,000 hour retirement life for the WD4139-00003-043 tail blade installed on the Sea King. After extensive study, ABS was also available to re-skin or re-build the honeycomb rotor blade assembly that had experienced damage to the aluminum skin that was beyond the current repair limits.
