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This procedure shows how to brand a simple repair to aircraft pare for example to repair a dent caused by dropping a tool on the aluminum surface. The time required varies but typically have 1-3 hours depending on skill level and the severity of the damage. The reader should be familiar working with canvass metal and riveting.

Steps

  1. one

    Describe a circle effectually the damaged surface area.

  2. 2

    Drill a pilot pigsty in the circle so a bigger Unibit can easily drill into the aluminum.

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  3. 3

    Using a preferred method cut out the aluminum within the circle drawn around the damage. Debur the newly cutting hole.

  4. 4

    Cutting out a circular patch from a sheet of aluminum that is the same thickness and the original aircraft peel. The diameter will depend on the number of rows of rivets you're planning on installing. Debur the outer edge of the patch.

  5. five

    Eye the patch over the hole in the aircraft skin and mark its outline.

  6. 6

    Since the aluminum existence used here is 0.040" thick, and the rivets are four/32" in diameter. The edge distance for riveting volition be ¼". The patch cut for this repair is large enough in diameter for 2 rows of rivets, so I will draw a line 1/iv" from the small hole and ¼ inward from the outline of the patch I drew.

  7. 7

    Once the edge altitude lines are fatigued, it'southward fourth dimension to mark the location of each rivet. The rule for rivet spacing is a minimum of 4 times the diameter of the rivet and a maximum of 12 times the diameter of the rivet. Yous'll also desire to go along the spacing between each rivet the aforementioned. But make sure you're inside those limits.

  8. 8

    Side by side, drill pilot holes where the rivet makings are located with a small drill bit so information technology is possible to drill the holes to full size, without deformation of the aluminum sheet.

  9. nine

    Secure the patch on the shipping skin and drill pilot holes in the patch. Utilize the holes previously drilled in the skin as a guide.

  10. 10

    With the patch still secured to the aircraft peel, expand the holes to the proper diameter. Utilise clecos to make sure the patch does not move while drilling.

  11. xi

    Remove the patch from the aircraft skin and deburr all the holes both on the patch and on the aircraft skin.

  12. 12

    In one case deburred, re-secure the patch on the peel using clecos.

  13. 13

    Using the proper rivets, secure the patch to the aircraft skin.

  14. xiv

    Finished.

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  • Always wear eye and ear protection when using pneumatic drills, rivet guns and other potentially loud or dangerous tools.

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Things Y'all'll Need

  • Rivet Gun + Accessories
  • Rivet Spacing: Minimum 4D, maximum 5D ( "D" being the diameter of the rivet)
  • Rivets Used: MS20420 Ad four-4
  • Clecos + Cleco pliers
  • Drill
  • Aluminum Thickness: 0.040"
  • Terminal Rivet Holes: #30 Drill bit
  • Pilot Holes: #xl Drill bit
  • Rivet Border Distance: Minimum 2D
  • File

Tools Used:

    1. 30 & #40 Drill Bits
  • Unibit

References

  1. - A&P Technician Full general Textbook, Jeppesen Sanderson Inc. 2004.
  2. ISBN 0-88487-339-0
  3. - A&P Technician Airframe Textbook, Jeppesen Sanderson Inc. 2003.
  4. ISBN 0-88487-331-5

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