Propeller shaft with reinforced front flange

A propeller shaft assembly for an aircraft engine, comprising:

• a shaft, and a propeller hub coupled to the shaft, the shaft having:
• a front end portion extending from a front end of the shaft;
• an annular wall extending circumferentially about a shaft axis and circumscribing a hollowed interior defining a cavity in the front end portion, the annular wall having an outer surface facing radially outwardly from the shaft and an inner surface spaced apart from the outer surface and facing radially inwardly to the cavity;
• a front flange projecting radially outwardly from the annular wall, the front flange defining a hub side surface and an engine side surface opposite the hub side surface and axially spaced apart therefrom, the hub side surface of the front flange defining an interface plane and adapted to abut with a propeller hub;
• and
• a reinforcement web defining an end wall of the cavity, the reinforcement web extending radially inwardly from the inner surface of the annular wall, at least part of the reinforcement web radially aligned with the front flange, a plurality of perforations extending through the reinforcement web, the plurality of perforations open at the front end of the shaft, the plurality of perforations defining fluid channels through the reinforcement web;
• and
• the propeller hub having:
• a flange engaging surface abutting against the hub side surface of the front flange, the propeller hub coupled to the shaft via the front flange;
• and
• wherein the fluid channels through the reinforcement web configured to provide fluid flow communication between the cavity and the propeller hub.