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 . <EOS>