[prkaye]

The elevator counterweight skin is riveted to a rib along three flanges with AN426 AD-3 rivets. On one of these flanges (the forward-facing one) has three rivets. In these spots, there was a gap between the rib flange and the skin that I was not able to close-up (the gap resulted from the required fluting, I think... but yes I did flute between the rivet holes).
When I set the rivets, this gap is still there (so the rivet has expanded slightly between the rib flange and the counterbalance skin. The skin is riveted tightly to the two longer flanges on the sides of the rib with no gaps. Is this OK?

 

[Steve]

Not knowing the size of the gap and depending on what Van's says (covering the bases), drill out the rivets then rivet the forward face first, working aft alternating between top and bottom sides of the arm.
Steve

 

[prkaye]

It was bothering me, so I drilled 'em out. I bought a tiny little pair of locking pliers which I used to hold the pieces firmly together while I re-riveted... much better now.