FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B
Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices
Aircraft Inspection and Repair
AC 43.13-1B | 7. Aircraft Hardware, Control Cables, and Turnbuckles | 1. Rivets | 7-2. Material Applications
9/8/98
AC 43.13-1B
CHAPTER 7. AIRCRAFT HARDWARE, CONTROL CABLES,
AND TURNBUCKLES
SECTION 1. RIVETS
7-1. GENERAL.
7-2. MATERIAL APPLICATIONS.
a. Standard solid-shank rivets and the
universal head rivets (AN470) are used in air-
craft construction in both interior and exterior
locations. All protruding head rivets may be
replaced by MS20470 (supersedes AN470)
rivets. This has been adopted as the standard
for protruding head rivets in the United States.
b. Roundhead rivets (AN430) are used in
the interior of aircraft except where clearance
is required for adjacent members.
c. Flathead rivets (AN442) are used in
the interior of the aircraft where interference of
adjacent members does not permit the use of
roundhead rivets.
d. Brazierhead rivets (AN455 and
AN456) are used on the exterior surfaces of
aircraft where flush riveting is not essential.
e. Countersunk head rivets MS20426
(supersedes AN426 100-degree) are used on
the exterior surfaces of aircraft to provide a
smooth aerodynamic surface, and in other ap-
plications where a smooth finish is desired.
The 100-degree countersunk head has been
adopted as the standard in the United States.
Refer to MIL-HD BK5 Metallic Materials and
Elements for Fight Vehicle Structures, and
U.S.A.F./Navy T./O. 1-1A-8, Structural Hard-
ware.”
a. Rivets made with 2117-T4 are the
most commonly used rivets in aluminum alloy
structures. The main advantage of 2117-T4 is
that it may be used in the condition received
without further treatment.
b. The 2017-T3, 2017-T31, and 2024-T4
rivets are used in aluminum alloy structures
where strength higher than that of the 2117-T4
rivet is needed. See Metallic Materials and
Elements for Flight Vehicle Structures
(MIL-HDBK-5) for differences between the
types of rivets specified here.
c. The 1100 rivets of pure aluminum are
used for riveting nonstructural parts fabricated
from the softer aluminum alloys, such as 1100,
3003, and 5052.
d. When riveting magnesium alloy
structures, 5056 rivets are used exclusively
due to their corrosion-resistant qualities in
combination with the magnesium alloys.
e. Mild steel rivets are used primarily in
riveting steel parts. Do not use galvanized
rivets on steel parts subjected to high heat.
f. Corrosion-resistant steel rivets are
used primarily in riveting corrosion-resistant
steel parts such as firewalls, exhaust stack
bracket attachments, and similar structures.
f. Typical rivet types are shown in ta-
ble 7-10.
Par 7-1
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