This evening I
started a modification to the rear baggage bulkhead and inspection plate. Currently, access to the tailcone area and the
area under the rear floor inspection plate is not possible if the fuel tank is
in place. By making this modification to
the bulkhead and inspection plate, the fuel tank can remain in place during an
inspection. The bulkhead and inspection
plate are modified so that only a portion of each part will remain in place
under and behind the fuel tank, and limited access is possible. I started by making the location of the right
center rib on the bottom of the inspection plate. I will need to not encroach on that space
with the back-up plate that will be used to connect the pieces of inspection
plate together.
I then marked the
cut line and the location of the drill holes for the rivets and 8-32 screws
that will hold the parts together. A
couple of months ago I ordered a piece of .063" aluminum sheet from Van's
for this project. I laid out the backup
plates on the sheet of aluminum. I used
the band saw to cut them out. A strip of
aluminum will be riveted to the section of inspection plate that will be under
the fuel tank and the other piece of inspection plate will be attached to the
strip with screws backed up by nutplates attached to the bottom of the strip.
I clamped the
strip of aluminum in place under the inspection panel and proceeded to drill
#30 holes. I then drilled the screw
holes with a #19 drill bit and also drilled and countersunk the holes for the
flush rivets to hold the nutplates in place.
There are 5-each rivets attaching the aluminum strip to the fuel tank
section of the inspection plate and 3-each 8-32 screws attaching the other
section of inspection plate to the strip.
After the holes were drilled I used the band saw to cut the inspection
plate in half. I riveted the
aluminum strip to the fuel tank half and connected the other portion to it with
3-screws. It fits perfectly in place.
I then began working on the modification of
the rear bulkhead. I cut out the piece
of aluminum backup plate that looks like a small framing square. Following a similar process used on the
inspection plate, I marked the cut lines and located the holes on the rear
bulkhead. I clamped the aluminum square
to the back of the rear bulkhead and drilled all of the holes with a #30 bit. Because the top and bottom holes on the long
leg of the square is so close to the edge I will need to purchase 2-each corner
nutplates to install in these locations.
I will call Van's to see if they have any in stock. If not I will need to order them
elsewhere. I redrilled the screw holes
with a #19 bit. My next step will
be to install the nutplates on the back of the aluminum square and cut the
bulkhead panel apart.
