In this paper, nonlinear aeroelastic behavior of a two-dimensional symmetric rotor blade in the dynamic stall regime is investigated. Two different oscillation models have been considered here: pitching oscillation and flap-edgewise oscillation. Stall aeroelastic instability in such systems can potentially lead to structural damage. Hence it is an important design concern, especially for wind turbines and helicopter rotors, where such modes of oscillation are likely to take place. Most previous analyses of such dynamical systems are not exhaustive. System parameters like structural nonlinearity or initial conditions have not been studied which could play a significant role on the overall dynamics. In the present paper, a parametric study on the aeroelastic instability and the nonlinear dynamical behavior of the system has been performed. Emphasis is given on the effect of structural nonlinearity and initial conditions. The aerodynamic loads in the dynamic stall regime have been computed using the Onera model. The qualitative influence of the system parameters is different in the two systems studied. The effect of structural nonlinearity on the bifurcation pattern of the system response is significant in the case of pitching oscillation. The initial condition plays an important role on the aeroelastic stability as well as on the bifurcation pattern in both the systems. In the forced response study, interesting dynamical behavior, like period-3 response, has been observed in the pitching oscillation case. On the other hand, for the flap-edgewise oscillation case, super-harmonic and quasi-harmonic response have been found. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.