Can this part be saved?

[2NinerFoxtrot]

Hi Everyone,
Looks like I might have messed up my first part. A misalignment with my pneumatic dimpler caused me to hit the side of a hole instead of going through the hole properly. I was able to re-align and then properly dimple the hole after the damage had been done, however. This is p/n VS-704 - one of the vertical stabilizer ribs on the 14. Can this part be saved or should I scrap and replace?

Thanks!

 

[9GT]

Scrap it and buy a new rib. That dimpled hole is bound to develop a crack sooner, rather than later.

 

[bjdecker]

Totally salvageable. Clean up the burr, make a doubler of the same thickness and use a slightly longer rivet.

 

[2NinerFoxtrot]

Thanks for the feedback, both.

If I were to make the doubler, roughly how much area should it cover? Essentially all the way up to the fluting or just enough to cover the "oopsie"?

 

[bjdecker]

I'd make it 5/8" x 3/4" or so -- it doesn't need to run the entirety of the flange. Just enough to support the old hole + tear out.

 

[RV7 To Go]

I would go full width and flute to flute. Make sure to buff out the sharp edges on the original dimple first to avoid cracking.

 

[Ironflight]

I wouldn’t even THINK about scrapping that part with that minor of damage. A flange doubler shoudl be more than sufficient, but your can go as complicated as you want. I’d do a flange doubler and move on….

 

[JonJay]

This type of repair is perfectly acceptable. Span the hole with a doubler long enough to rivet one rivet each side of the hole on the flange . This holds the doubler in place. Nest the doubler under the flange.
This repair method is documented in one of my WWII manuals which has a remarkable resemblance to AC43.
Not sure which came first?
You will forget it’s there.

 

[2NinerFoxtrot]

Thanks for the help everyone!

I'll get this one hammered out this week.