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Silly mistake

Missed a pulled rivet in my elevators after riveting everything together.

See attached.

Any ideas or is drill out for days?

Best
G
 

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Talk to the Mothership, Model, position, etc.
I’ll guess from an engineering standpoint point, one of those pull rivets are what my roommate called “static redundancy” and that Vans will say “Relax, and Build On”.
 
All you need is enough room to get your hand and a tool in there. I would drill out rivets on the underside. If well practiced, I bet you can have enough rivets drilled out in an hour or two. A picture of the whole thing with approximate position would help.

Practice, practice, practice before drilling on the elevator. Assuming you're dealing with AN426AD3-X, my technique is to center punch on the dimple, start a small hole with a number 45 or 47, then drill with a number 40 down to the bottom of the dimple, snap off head with an appropriately sized pin punch, and then push shank through with same punch. Sometimes, if you're accurate and lucky the #40 drill bit will punch out the rivet.
 
Not sure if you have enough material there, but if so, you could possibly enlarge the hole with a flexible drill extension and put in an AN3 bolt.
 
If me, I would see if there is a tool to do a remote pop rivet pull. Two rivets are there for a reason. It's not structurally critical in that location, serving mainly to prevent spreading of that rib member, which is likely to be very small given it's secured by the skin. You're the airplane manufacturer, so it's your call. Maybe some other kind of fastener will work in place of the rivet.
 
Maybe some other kind of fastener will work in place of the rivet.
Consider a small screw and nut. You may still have to drill out a few rivets for access but it’s guaranteed to be less invasive. If you are creative I bet you can get right in there as it sits.
 
The difference between a beginner and a pro is in how well you hide the mistake…As Ando suggested, a screw and nut and I concur…I’d recommend a wrench head or torx or Allen head screw…4-40…5-36 and 6-32 all work well

5-36 for the 1/8”


You can make an extended tool way easier than drilling rivets out…use a nylok and you’re good to go.

Ps…..pro’s don’t tell on themselves as to making a mistake….we use terms like…feature, not flaw! And bank on no one else finding those “features”
 
Can you or some kid with skiiny arms touch the rivet hole? Will a manual pull riveter fit through the spar lightening hole?. Compact Angle drill? Depending on your answers

Pull rivet
Hilok fastener
Upsize to #28 and install #6 screw/nut.
 
I had 4 rivets that took 30 hrs of dissembly/reassembly to correct, 5 min of setting the rivets. I dragged my feet until it had to be addressed. Do what is needed (Vans) and move on. When you are in the dark, over the mountains at 14,000 feet in IMC and getting knocked around, this is not something you want to think about. It is avoidable - fix it.
 
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