An aircraft rotor system, comprising: a rotating pitch change shaft which rotates about an axis; a translating element disposed within the rotating pitch change shaft and movable along the axis; and a pitch change bearing assembly which transfers movement of the translating element to the pitch change shaft, the assembly including: a primary bearing coupled to the rotating pitch change shaft via the translating element when the primary bearing is in a first mode; a secondary bearing coupled to the rotating pitch change shaft via the translating element when the primary bearing is in a first mode; and a thrust shoulder coupled to the translating element, the thrust shoulder being movable into engagement with the secondary bearing in response to failure of the primary bearing in the first mode and such that, in a second mode, movement of the translating element is primarily transferred to the pitch change shaft via the secondary bearing; Z characterized in that it further comprises: a biasing mechanism configured to apply a preload to the secondary bearing; wherein the primary bearing includes a first bearing and a second bearing, the secondary bearing being positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing relative to the axis of the translating element; and wherein the secondary bearing includes a third bearing and a fourth bearing coupled by a biasing mechanism, and the thrust shoulder is positioned within a clearance defined between the third bearing and the fourth bearing. a rotating pitch change shaft which rotates about an axis; a translating element disposed within the rotating pitch change shaft and movable along the axis; and a pitch change bearing assembly which transfers movement of the translating element to the pitch change shaft, the assembly including: a primary bearing coupled to the rotating pitch change shaft via the translating element when the primary bearing is in a first mode; a secondary bearing coupled to the rotating pitch change shaft via the translating element when the primary bearing is in a first mode; and a thrust shoulder coupled to the translating element, the thrust shoulder being movable into engagement with the secondary bearing in response to failure of the primary bearing in the first mode and such that, in a second mode, movement of the translating element is primarily transferred to the pitch change shaft via the secondary bearing; Z characterized in that it further comprises: a biasing mechanism configured to apply a preload to the secondary bearing; wherein the primary bearing includes a first bearing and a second bearing, the secondary bearing being positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing relative to the axis of the translating element; and wherein the secondary bearing includes a third bearing and a fourth bearing coupled by a biasing mechanism, and the thrust shoulder is positioned within a clearance defined between the third bearing and the fourth bearing. a primary bearing coupled to the rotating pitch change shaft via the translating element when the primary bearing is in a first mode; a secondary bearing coupled to the rotating pitch change shaft via the translating element when the primary bearing is in a first mode; and a thrust shoulder coupled to the translating element, the thrust shoulder being movable into engagement with the secondary bearing in response to failure of the primary bearing in the first mode and such that, in a second mode, movement of the translating element is primarily transferred to the pitch change shaft via the secondary bearing; Z characterized in that it further comprises: a biasing mechanism configured to apply a preload to the secondary bearing; wherein the primary bearing includes a first bearing and a second bearing, the secondary bearing being positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing relative to the axis of the translating element; and wherein the secondary bearing includes a third bearing and a fourth bearing coupled by a biasing mechanism, and the thrust shoulder is positioned within a clearance defined between the third bearing and the fourth bearing. a biasing mechanism configured to apply a preload to the secondary bearing; wherein the primary bearing includes a first bearing and a second bearing, the secondary bearing being positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing relative to the axis of the translating element; and wherein the secondary bearing includes a third bearing and a fourth bearing coupled by a biasing mechanism, and the thrust shoulder is positioned within a clearance defined between the third bearing and the fourth bearing.