Abstract: A tail rotor blade for a helicopter has a core 22 whose shape defines the trailing portions of the blade. Core 22 is adhered to upper 20 and lower 21 metallic skins which extend within and are adhered to the inner surfaces at the trailing edge of a metallic nose spar 10. A pair of straps 30, 31 of unidirectional fiberglass strands extend spanwise and are adhered to the inner surface of the leading edges of the skins 20, 21 and the outer leading surfaces of the core 22 as to span chordwise the regions of the joints between nose spar 10 and skins 20, 21.