Blade strike

[Morrchew]

Out flying my Velos today almost lost it , had a main blade and tail blade strike in a violent maneuver. Hard to believe that the mains could flex so much but I guess it is a 22 pound machine . Small chip on one main blade but I think still flyable and the tail I'm not sure may need to order a new one only one tail blade is chipped the other two are still good .

[A VIKING]

Glad that ended well for you Morrchew.
This is the three bladed tail rotor I assume?
What was you rotor RPM being flown at the time?
It is very surprising a main blade could reach the tail blades in flight. I was always worried about a boom strike, but that would be hard to do as well.
If it was me...
Sitting static on the ground, the main blades don't have the reach necessary to contact the tail blades even if the main blades are flexed downward do they?
Carbon fiber doesn't stretch but can flex.

I would check the tightness of all four main frame screws for the transmission deck. I have found two separate screws backed out over time with my model and yes there was thread lock used, so could loose main fuselage screws allow the transmission deck to rock back and aft with high rotor loading in flight and cause main and tail blade contact?

I chipped a tail blade in a auto rotation landing long ago and had to remove 1/8" off the tip to eliminate the chip.
Off course I shortened the other two as well to keep in balance.
Blades can't contact now.
My rule in doing so was during the shortening process, if I ended up removing the solid tip of the tail blade and could detect core material, I would scrap the blade.
I removed 1/8" from all three blades without getting into the blade core material.
I also monitored them for a while to insure they didn't spit out any tip material after flight...after 150 flights they remain perfect and sound.
Not saying this would be the best process for saving your blades but mine fly and look perfect...just a tiny bit shorter.

[Morrchew]

Thanks Viking for the advise and yes it's a three blade tail and head speeds of 1976 rpm as per castle log , could I use one of the tail blades from my 2 blade set up .

[A VIKING]

They are the same tail blade between the two and three bladed setup so yes you can use one of your other blades.
Just make sure you stay balanced.
My three bladed tail is comprised of my two original tail blades and one new tail blade to make the set of three, this was a prototype setup before the production units were released.
I had to balance the set but it has flown smoothly since.