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  #11  
Old 02-12-2013, 02:59 PM
Captain Avgas Captain Avgas is offline
 
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Location: Melbourne, Australia
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I used nutplates on mine. It gives you more options and improved access for maintenance but takes time to instal and costs a bit more.

I put my strobe pack under one side and my comm aerial under the other. I also ran my flap position wiring under there. Of course I also have ready access to my steps (which have a bad historical record for cracking).

Either way, it's not a make or break decision. I generally find that the guys who get their jollies from building are more inclined to use nutplates, and the guys who just want to get into the air tend to use rivets.

But if you opt for nutplates don't take the advice of installing one at every second rivet hole. I doubt that would be structurally adequate.
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Last edited by Captain Avgas : 02-12-2013 at 03:09 PM.
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  #12  
Old 02-12-2013, 03:20 PM
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DanBaier DanBaier is offline
 
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Went with nutplates - only had to go in there once in 4 1/2 years but I think it made the job a lot easier and faster.

Dan
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  #13  
Old 02-12-2013, 03:52 PM
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polishpilot polishpilot is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by larrynew View Post
I did nutplates and made the floor removable as I'm planning on antennas (transponder and ADSB) under the floors. Definitely do it during construction and not after like I did.

Ditto on this. Transponder installed under floor. All nutplates to replace rivets.
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  #14  
Old 02-12-2013, 05:00 PM
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bruceh bruceh is offline
 
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I stuck with the pull rivets. Nothing is going under there, so why add the weight and expense and hassle of installing nutplates? I ran some extra conduit under there for wiring runs and have plenty of room to get future wires back to the rear section of the fuselage.
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  #15  
Old 02-12-2013, 05:49 PM
terrye terrye is offline
 
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Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Default Nutplates in mine

I used nutplates in my baggage compartment floors as well as the seat bottoms. Majority of the baggage compartment ones are countersunk type for flush screws so they don't catch bags etc. This is probably overkill if you put some carpet down over top of the floor.
I did it for two reasons:
1. Maintainability. You never know when/why you might want to get in there again. For example, check antenna grounding or coax attachments. Also, I'm tired of standing on my head trying to get under the cabin and baggage compartment floors on my Cessna 150 for any reason.
2. Inspection. The first part of this is in Canada, we're required to have a pre-cover inspection. The under floor area is one of those closed structures they like to look at before signing off. I didn't have my fuselage built when I got the pre-cover inspection done on the wings and empennage. Second part of this is the ability to easily inspect the structure on a future annual.

I used nutplates in every rivet hole. Some of these required a one leg nutplate, most required a two leg nutplate. I will say the cost of the nutplates does add up, and the installation time adds up too. However, I'd do it again.
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  #16  
Old 02-12-2013, 06:41 PM
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Sparky Sparky is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Perham, MN
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Default Riveted mine

On my RV-7 I riveted the baggage floor. No steps. No antennas under this area. Nothing to require access.

I did, however, run lateral and longitudinal conduits on each side to allow for future wiring changes using standard Van's conduit. Inspections will be done using a cheap digital boroscope. If I do need access in the future, the LP-4 rivets are almost as easy to drill out as removing screws.
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  #17  
Old 02-12-2013, 09:13 PM
Captain Avgas Captain Avgas is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparky View Post
If I do need access in the future, the LP-4 rivets are almost as easy to drill out as removing screws.
No they're not.
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  #18  
Old 02-12-2013, 09:49 PM
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bret bret is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Avgas View Post
I used nutplates on mine. It gives you more options and improved access for maintenance but takes time to instal and costs a bit more.

I put my strobe pack under one side and my comm aerial under the other. I also ran my flap position wiring under there. Of course I also have ready access to my steps (which have a bad historical record for cracking).

Either way, it's not a make or break decision. I generally find that the guys who get their jollies from building are more inclined to use nutplates, and the guys who just want to get into the air tend to use rivets.

But if you opt for nutplates don't take the advice of installing one at every second rivet hole. I doubt that would be structurally adequate.
Well, I just did prep for one side tonight, drilled and dimpled for nutplates, until I read your post about the steps, well shoot, I guess I will do both sides now. Thanks for the info folks, it is greatly appreciated!.
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  #19  
Old 02-12-2013, 09:50 PM
BPoletti BPoletti is offline
 
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Location: St. Louis, MO area
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Avgas View Post
No they're not.
And would seem too much chance for FOD.
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  #20  
Old 02-14-2013, 09:19 AM
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bret bret is offline
 
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Just did 90 nutplates last night on the seat, crotch, and baggage ribs, and now looking at the plans at work, it looks like I need to install more on the F-705 bulkhead top flange, Hum.....
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