Definition
The thickness of the leading or trailing edge of a propeller blade, measured at a specified distance from the blade tip. Edge thickness is checked during propeller inspection because nicks, dents, or erosion that reduce edge thickness below allowable limits create stress concentrations that can lead to blade failure.
Plain English
How thick the front or back edge of a propeller blade is at a given point. Mechanics measure it during inspection because if damage thins the edge too much, the blade can crack or break.
Context Anchor
Seen in propeller inspection, propeller repair, and maintenance limit discussions.
Why Pilots Care
Affects drag, lift efficiency, and structural integrity of flight surfaces.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as the thickness of just any aircraft edge. In this context, it normally refers to a measured edge of a propeller blade and whether that edge is still thick enough to meet limits.
Example Sentence 1
During the 100-hour inspection, the mechanic measured edge thickness at several points along each propeller blade to confirm it was within limits.
Example Sentence 2
Designers reduced the trailing edge thickness to minimize drag on the high-speed wing.