Definition
Small, adjustable metal tabs attached to the trailing edge of helicopter rotor blades, used to fine-tune the tracking of the blades so that all blades follow the same path through the air as they rotate.
Plain English
Little bendable strips on the back edge of a helicopter rotor blade. A mechanic adjusts them so every blade flies through the same circle as it spins, which keeps the rotor smooth.
Context Anchor
Seen in helicopter maintenance, especially when correcting rotor vibration or checking that the blades are moving evenly.
Derivation
The word 'tab' comes from a small flap or projection. On a rotor blade, the tab is literally a small bendable flap on the trailing edge -- the same idea as a trim tab on an airplane control surface, just used to adjust blade flight path instead of pilot control feel.
Why Pilots Care
Correctly set blade tabs reduce vibration that can damage components and affect handling.
Intuition Check
Blade tabs are not labels or pull-tabs on a blade. In this context, they are small adjustable pieces used to fine-tune how a rotor blade flies.
Example Sentence 1
After the new blades were installed, the mechanic adjusted the blade tabs until all three blades tracked within tolerance.
Example Sentence 2
After replacing a rotor blade, new blade tabs were adjusted to remove vibration.