Aircraft Propeller Parts List

Aircraft propellers are used to translate the rotating force of the engine into thrust, which moves the plane forward. The propulsion system on a jet engine is usually powered by turbine engines. The engine and propeller are often referred to as the Powerplant.

Turbine engines take in surrounding air, mix the air with fuel, burn the fuel to release energy, and use the resulting gas exhausts to move the piston. On an aircraft, the engine’s piston is connected to a propeller.

The most recognizable component of a propeller are the blades that are all connected to a central hub.

The propeller blades are essentially airfoils with a twist. Propeller blades have a back and a face. The back of the propeller blade is visible if you were to stand in front of the propeller. The outermost, flat edge of the blade is called the tip.  It is the furthest point away from the central hub while the portion of the blade that is closest to the central hub is referred to as the shank.

There are two key design components of a propeller: the angle of the propeller blade and the pitch. The angle of the propeller blade helps to maintain the same angle of attack (the angle at which the wind hits the blade). The pitch of a propeller is the distance a propeller would travel in one revolution if it were turning in a solid.

Propeller blades have a leading and a trailing edge. The leading edge leads the rotational movement, whereas the trailing edge follows. As a propeller blade is twisted, the angle of rotation varies along the length.

Propeller blade stations are reference lines that measure the distance from the hub. The lines are numbered and locate various positions on the propeller blade. They are usually spaced at 6-inch intervals. The first station is usually 12 inches from the hub.

The central hub is attached to the shaft using a propeller nut. Propeller nuts are still considered to be part of the propeller rather than the engine.

Propellers are considered by the FAA to be one of three types of aviation parts (aircraft, aircraft engines, and propellers). The FAA has a section in the Code of Federal Regulations dedicated to the outlying the various safety standards for propellers. CFR part 35 details regulations pertaining to the configuration of the propeller, installation, operating limitations, design, and safety of a propeller. Section 35.39 “Endurance test” states that fixed-pitch and ground propellers must pass an endurance test.