A method of fabricating an airfoil element out of composite material, comprises: making a fiber preform (300), said preform being impregnated with resin; polymerizing the resin with a matrix so as to obtain an airfoil element made of composite material comprising fiber reinforcement densified by a matrix; and fastening metal reinforcement on the composite material airfoil element, the metal reinforcement being fastened on the airfoil element by rivets. The method further comprises, prior to impregnating the fiber preform (300) with resin, inserting spacer elements (10) between the fibers of the fiber preform (300) and removing said spacer elements after the resin has been polymerized so as to form at least one passage between the fibers of the fiber reinforcement of the composite material airfoil element.