https://tennesseeaircraft.net/wp-conten ... 210t02.pdf
It describes using DD rivets, which heat treated and fresh out of the kiln, are good for about 30 minutes. After that, another heat treatment would be required to set them. The workable time can be extended by putting them straight out of the oven into an icebox. The least expensive suitable kilns I could find online were in the neighborhood of $500.
I asked my IA if he knew anybody locally who could do the work, and he contacted an airframes specialist, who recommended Mountain Airframes over Mena, AR. I had previously heard the name on this forum, when I’d inquired about a good shop for doing annuals. Unfortunately, Mountain Airframes only does structural repair, not annuals.
I contacted Del at Mountain Airframes, and sent him before pictures (see below):
He described this as a common problem with anti-corrosion compounds, and related he had dealt with numerous smoking rivets on the Corrosion-X test bed Bonanza. He estimated about 2 days and $2500 if they didn’t have to access the bladder compartment, and about 4X as much if they had to go in there, requiring wing pulls. I set up an appoijntment a couple months down the road and flew up there as scheduled.
An interesting aside, at least from my standpoint, Mena’s airport, KMEZ, is located in a valley in the Ozarks, and although their 3500 foot height ridges are no competition for Colorado, their ridges are festooned with numerous towers. I filled IFR as it was going to be dark when I got there and cloud cover was forecast. As I approached the airport, the most recent hourly report was CLR and 8 miles viz, with a zero temp/dew point spread. Hmmm.
When.I got close enough, the AWOS was reporting 1-1/4 viz. Not good enough for me to try the approach with my very limited familiarity of the area. If it went down to 1-1/4 in the half-hour between those reports, it could easily get down to zero quickly. And as mentioned above, towers. I diverted to Kerr, KRKR, about 30 nm NW. I called Del, and he said it was clear, and that the previous week another couple pilots had reported similar errant “wonky” AWOS readings. I sheepishly went VFR into KMEZ as it was now daylight, and landed uneventfully.
Fortunately, the bladder compartments smoking rib flange is pointed outboard, so those rivets are external to the bladder compartment, so no wing pulls needed there. I should also mention I wanted it done with solid rivets, not Cherry Max. Unfortunately, there are a couple stringers on the upper surface of the bladder compartment, that attach to the outboard rib with three rivets each . On the left wing, they were smoking. Del had suggested there is a possible fix for those with pressurized epoxy, but I decided to go with Cherry Max blind rivets there. There is a sheet of aluminum underlying the stringers, so metal bits shouldn’t endanger the bladder below. This fix was suggested by Gray Morris, an airframe guy at Birchwood PABV during my recent trip to Anchorage.
Del pointed out the additional inspection holes which accompany a Flint Aero interal auxiliary “Legacy” fuel tanks installation would make the job a lot quicker, as they improve access. I was given the keys to a crew cab courtesy pickup, and I went off wandering. About 5 hours later. Del called and said it was done. Looks good. Cost was only $920. I’m very happy with their work. It’s an impressive facility, with several people working on multiple aircraft,
- Before
