A structure and a method of constructing a root joint and blade retention mechanism of a composite airfoil of a propulsor blade is presented. The retention assembly includes an inner sleeve configured to retain a root area of the composite propulsor blade. The inner sleeve is fixedly attached to an inner surface of the root area by a resin transfer molding process. An outer sleeve is bonded to an outer surface of the composite propulsor blade after the completion of the resin transfer molding process. At least one bearing assembly is disposed within an annular groove of the outer sleeve. The bearing assembly rotatably couples the propulsor blade and the retention assembly to a hub assembly.
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