FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B
Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices
Aircraft Inspection and Repair
AC 43.13-1B | 2. Fabric Covering | 1. Practices and Precautions | 2-6. Preparation of the Structure for Covering
9/8/98
TABLE 2-1. Cotton and linen fabrics.
Materials
Specification
Minimum
Tensile
Strength New
(undoped)
Minimum
Tearing
Strength New
(undoped)
(ASTM D 1424)
Airplane cloth
mercerized
cotton
(Grade “A”).
TSO-C15d, as
amended,
references
Society
Automotive
Engineers
AMS 3806d,
as amended or
MIL-C-5646
80 pounds
per inch
warp and fill.
5 pounds
warp and fill.
Airplane cloth
mercerized
cotton.
TSO-C14b, as
amended,
references
Society
Automotive
Engineers
AMS-3804c,
as amended.
65 pounds
per inch warp
and fill.
4 pounds warp
and fill.
Airplane cloth
mercerized
cotton.
Society
Automotive
Engineers
AMS 3802, as
amended.
50 pounds per
inch warp and
fill.
3 pounds warp
and fill.
Aircraft linen. British 7F1.
Minimum
Tensile
Strength
Deteriorated
(undoped)
56 pounds
per inch.
46 pounds per
inch.
35 pounds per
inch.
AC 43.13.1B
Thread
Count Per
Inch
Use and
Remarks
80 min.,
84 max.
warp and fill.
80 min.,
94 max.
warp and fill.
110 max.
warp and fill.
For use on all
aircraft.
Required on
aircraft with
wing loading
of 9 p.s.f. or
greater or
placard never
exceed speed
of 160 m.p.h.
or greater.
For use on
aircraft with
wing loading
less than
9 p.s.f. and
never exceed
speed of less
than
160 m.p.h.
For use on
gliders with
wing loading
of 8 p.s.f. or
less, provided
the placarded
never-exceed
speed is 135
m.p.h. or less.
This material
meets the
minimum
strength
Requirements
of TSO-C15.
a. Battery Box Treatment. An asphaltic,
rubber-based acid-proof coating should be ap
plied to the structure in the area of a battery
box, by brush, for additional protection from
battery acid. Control cables routed in the area
of the battery box should be coated with
paralketone.
b. Worn Holes. Oversized screw holes or
worn size 4 self-tapping screw holes through
ribs and other structures used to attach fabric
may be redrilled a minimum 1-1/2 hole di
ameter distance from the original hole location
with a # 44 (0.086) drill bit. Size 6 screws,
drill bit size # 36 (0.1065), may be installed in
stripped or worn holes drilled for
size 4 screws, usually without redrilling. Worn
holes for wire clips and wire barbs should be
redrilled a minimum 1-1/2 hole distance from
the original locations using a drill jig to ensure
correct spacing, with the appropriate size drill
bit. Drill bit size # 30 (0.128) may be used to
redrill oversize holes for 1/8-inch diameter
blind rivets a minimum 1-1/2 hole diameter
distance from the original location.
Par 2-6
Page 2-3