A rotor blade, comprising: a surface and a solid tip block formed in a solid portion of the rotor blade; a rotor-blade span-balancing system comprising: a span-balance pocket in the surface of the rotor blade, the span-balance pocket comprising an inboard surface and an outboard surface; one or more weights disposed against the outboard surface in the span-balance pocket to react the centrifugal force of the one or more weights through the outboard surface; one or more retention devices to retain the one or more weights against the outboard surface of the span-balance pocket; a cover covering the span-balance pocket, wherein the cover is flush with the surface of the rotor blade and is attached to the rotor blade; and characterized in that: the span-balance pocket is machined or molded into the solid tip block of the rotor blade; and the one or more retention devices are positioned between the one or more weights and the inboard surface of the span-balance pocket such that there are no shear loads on the one or more retention devices. a surface and a solid tip block formed in a solid portion of the rotor blade; a rotor-blade span-balancing system comprising: a span-balance pocket in the surface of the rotor blade, the span-balance pocket comprising an inboard surface and an outboard surface; one or more weights disposed against the outboard surface in the span-balance pocket to react the centrifugal force of the one or more weights through the outboard surface; one or more retention devices to retain the one or more weights against the outboard surface of the span-balance pocket; a cover covering the span-balance pocket, wherein the cover is flush with the surface of the rotor blade and is attached to the rotor blade; and characterized in that: the span-balance pocket is machined or molded into the solid tip block of the rotor blade; and the one or more retention devices are positioned between the one or more weights and the inboard surface of the span-balance pocket such that there are no shear loads on the one or more retention devices. a span-balance pocket in the surface of the rotor blade, the span-balance pocket comprising an inboard surface and an outboard surface; one or more weights disposed against the outboard surface in the span-balance pocket to react the centrifugal force of the one or more weights through the outboard surface; one or more retention devices to retain the one or more weights against the outboard surface of the span-balance pocket; a cover covering the span-balance pocket, wherein the cover is flush with the surface of the rotor blade and is attached to the rotor blade; and characterized in that: the span-balance pocket is machined or molded into the solid tip block of the rotor blade; and the one or more retention devices are positioned between the one or more weights and the inboard surface of the span-balance pocket such that there are no shear loads on the one or more retention devices. the span-balance pocket is machined or molded into the solid tip block of the rotor blade; and the one or more retention devices are positioned between the one or more weights and the inboard surface of the span-balance pocket such that there are no shear loads on the one or more retention devices.