I have a question about aluminum polishing and aluminum deoxidizer used on aircraft skins, spinners, propellers, and other components to make them shine. Most of the General Aviation skins are 2024-T3 clad aluminum in most cases. I know the alclad has about 0.003 inches thick pure aluminum to...
As an old sheet metal guy who has driven many DD style rivets most installations manuals call for dipping the DD rivet in sealant like 8802-B2 or epoxy primer paint before driving. After the rivets are heat treated and forzen the dia will change a little and most DD are tapped in the hole with...
Many years ago I work on a project for the new elevators installed on the F-111 aircraft using metal to composite lay up. Needless to say this was a manufacturing nightmare and many articles were rejected because of the lay up and contamination. However being the government we had lots of...
There are several FAA documents that have minimums for dimpling. In AC 65-15A Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics Airframe Handbook, Chapter 5 Aircraft Structural Repairs under countersinking and Dimpling it states;
“As a general rule, use the drill countersink method when the thickness of the...
I happen to be up on the Light Sport Aircraft (LSA) certification and have certified several to date. The cost of the part 103 (Fat Ultra lights) are within the 3X (Experimental-LSA).
However the Special-LSA are a different story many are between 60K and 120K at the present time. Currently...
Since I have thousands of hours drilling holes I can say it all depends on the person performing the drilling process. As you are well aware most mechanics/technicians don’t sharpen their drill bits on a regular time schedule and use different drill speeds. Because of this factor many holes...
As certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic myself with way to many years experience I would say its not a place you will get rich. If you love aviation like most of us its worth it.
I have created a mechanic tool box on my web site explaining how to and what is required to receive the...
In short taper locks are not re-useable. It has been my experience removing taper locks will damage them. In most cases the taper lock is drilled down the center to relieve the stress. When a punch is placed in the drilled hole and hit with a hammer the taper lock will collapse on itself not...
Can a non-certificated shop repair parts? Yes, they can under the supervision of a certificated person FAR 43.3(d) A person working under the supervision of a holder of a mechanic or repairman certificate may perform the maintenance, preventive maintenance, and alterations that his supervisor...
If you contact SPS Technoloigies they can provide you with a supplier.
SPS Technologies
Aerospace Fasteners Group
301 Highland Avenue
Jenkintown, PA 19046
Phone: (215) 572-3000
As a last resort contact Tech Connect and give them a part number and request a supplier.
Tech Connect
Technology...
I ran into a similar access hole a couple years ago on a Bell-206. Bell has a repair for this, but it didn't come cheap and requires some well trained mechanics with the proper equipment and tooliling to install the doublers. As a mechanic I would recommend a good tap test of the area or eddy...
I ran a check of all the AC’s that may apply and came up with the ones below. I think AC 25.10 explains it best. Something you may want to consider is contacting the FAA MIDO office in your area as they will more than likely have the data or point you to it.
AC 20-107A Composite Aircraft...
I happen to have a copy of Michelin care and service manual and on page 30 Inflating with nitrogen it says: "Many regulatory agencies require the use of nitrogen when inflating tires for aircraft above a specified Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW). Michelin recommends the use of a dry, commerical...
You can contact the Technology Transition Office and they can find the bolts you need. If you have the part number or national stock number it will greatly help them. This office is a wealth of information.
Tech Connect
Technology Transition Office
AFMC TTO/TTR Bldg. 22N
2690 C St STE 5...
On several aircaft I have repaired over the years the structural repair manual (SRM) called out for the rivets to be dipped in epoxy primmer and installed (wet). Other manuals call out installing fuel cell rivets dipped in 8802 sealant. And on other repairs an engineering change order (ECO)...
In aviation we often use the term “airworthy”, but I wonder how many aviator’s really know the meaning? There is a new AC 43-18 out as of March 2006 and it defines airworthy as follows:
Airworthy. The term "airworthy" is not defined in Title 49 of the United States Code (49 U.S.C.), or in 14...
As aviation professionals we have a duty to warn others of potential problems. If we find something and know its wrong and don’t report it we could be held legally responsible if something should happen even years later.
The FAA works on safety related stuff and the mechanic, engineering’s and...
I have read the weakest area of any mechanical fastener is the minor diameter of the threads. Since the thread dimensions of a cut thread and rolled thread fastener are identical, I would like to know if there is difference in strength between the two.
I have seen a lot or cut threads fail in...
