Lock Plates

 In certain circumstances, the torque applied, the thread, or the type of nut, being used
may not guarantee that the nut would not unwind in use (such as during vibration).
 Lock plates are used where positive retention of a nut is required (Fig. 5-25).
 To install a typical lock plate the nut is torque loaded and then (only if necessary) turned
a small amount, (< 1/12-revolution) until its flats align with the flats in the lock plate.
 The plate usually has 12 flats to allow for this adjustment.
 The plate is then placed over the nut and a small setscrew is fastened into the tapped hole
adjacent to the nut.
 Removal of the nut simply involves removing the setscrew, lifting off the plate and
unwinding the nut.
 Note: A Tab washer could be used to do the same task.
 The lock plate is used where the nut is frequently removed.
 The plate can be used indefinitely providing it retains a good fit with the nut.

Pins
 The three main types of pins used in aircraft structures are-
 The taper pin,
 Flathead pin,
 Cotter pin.
 Pins are used in shear applications and for safetying.
 Roll pins are finding increasing uses in aircraft construction.
 Taper Pins and threaded taper pins (AN385 and AN386) are used in joints which carry
shear loads and where absence of play is essential.
 The plain taper pin is drilled and usually safetied with wire.
 The threaded taper pin is used with a taper pin washer (AN975) and shear nut (safetied
with a cotter pin or safety clip) or self-locking nut.
 Flathead Pin commonly called a clevis pin.
 The flathead pin (MS20392) is used with tie rod terminals and in secondary controls
which are not subject to continuous operation.
 The pin is customarily installed with the head up so that if the cotter pin fails or -works
out, the pin will remain in place.

Cotter Pins
 The AN380 cadmium plated, low carbon steel cotter pin is used for safetying bolts,
screws, nuts, other pins, and in various applications where such safetying is necessary.
 The AN381 corrosion resistant steel cotter pin is used in locations where nonmagnetic
material is required, or in locations where resistance to corrosion is desired.
Cotter Pin Safetying
 Cotter pin installation is shown in Figure 5-26.
 Castellated nuts are used with bolts that have been drilled for cotter pins.
 The cotter pin should fit neatly into the hole, with very little side play.
 The following general rules apply to cotter pin safetying:
 1. The prong bent over the bolt end should not extend beyond the bolt diameter. (Cut it
off if necessary.)
 2. The prong bent down should not rest against the surface of the washer. (Again, cut it
off if necessary.)
 3. If the optional wraparound method is used, the prongs should not extend outward from
the sides of the nut.
 4. All prongs should be bent over a reasonable radius.
 Sharp angled bends invite breakage.
 Tapping lightly with a mallet is the best method of bending the prongs.

Roll Pins
 The roll pin is a pressed fit pin with chamfered ends.
 It is tubular in shape and is slotted the full length of the tube.
 The pin is inserted with hand tools and is compressed as it is driven into place.
 Pressure exerted by the roll pin against the hole walls keeps it in place, until deliberately
removed with a drift punch or pin punch.

Safety Wiring
 Safety wiring is the most satisfactory method of safetying cap screws, studs, nuts, bolt
heads, and turnbuckle barrels which cannot be safetied by any other practical means.
 It is a method of wiring together two or more units in such a manner that any tendency of
one to loosen is counteracted by the tightening of the wire.
General Safety Wiring Rules
 When using the safety wire method of safetying, the following general rules should be
followed:
 1. A pigtail of¼ to ½-inch (three to six twists) should be made at the end of the wiring.
 This pigtail must be bent back or under to prevent it from becoming a snag.
 2. The safety wire must be new upon each application.
 3. When castellated nuts are to be secured with safety wire, tighten the nut to the low
side of the selected torque range, unless otherwise specified, and if necessary, continue
tightening until a slot aligns with the hole.
 4. All safety wires must be tight after installation, but not under such tension that normal
handling or vibration will break the wire.
 5. The wire must be applied so that all pull exerted by the wire tends to tighten the nut.
 6. Twists should be tight and even, and the wire between the nuts as taut as possible
without over twisting.
 7. The safety wire should always be installed and twisted so that the loop around the
head stays down and does not tend to come up over the bolt head, causing a slack loop.
Nuts, Bolts, and Screws
 Nuts, bolts, and screws are safety wired by the single wire or double twist method.
 The double twist method is the most common method of safety wiring.
 The single wire method may be used on small screws in a closely spaced closed
geometrical pattern, on parts in electrical systems, and in places that are extremely
difficult to reach.
 Safety wiring should always be as per conventional methods or as required by the
manufacturer, especially for Light Sport Aircraft (LSA).
 Fig Safety wiring is an illustration of various methods which are commonly used in
safety wiring nuts, bolts, and screws.
 Careful study of Figure Safety wiring shows that:
 • Examples 1, 2, and 3 illustrate the proper method of safety wiring bolts, screws, square
head plugs, and similar parts when wired in pairs.
 • Example 4 illustrates several components wired in series.
 • Example 5 illustrates the proper method of wiring castellated nuts and studs. (Note that
there is no loop around the nut.)
 • Examples 6 and 7 illustrate a single threaded component wired to a housing or lug.
 • Example 8 illustrates several components in a closely spaced closed geometrical
pattern, using a single wire method.
 When drilled head bolts, screws, or other parts are grouped together, they are more
conveniently safety wired to each other in a series rather than individually.
 The number of nuts, bolts, or screws that may be safety wired together is dependent on
the application.
 For instance, when safety wiring widely spaced bolts by the double twist method, a
group of three should be the maximum number in a series.
 When safety wiring closely spaced bolts, the number that can be safety wired by a 24-
inch length of wire is the maximum in a series.
 The wire is arranged so that if the bolt or screw begins to loosen, the force applied to the
wire is in the tightening direction.
 Parts being safety wired should be torqued to recommend values and the holes aligned
before attempting the safetying operation.
 Never over torque or loosen a torqued nut to align safety wire holes.
Oil Caps, Drain Cocks, and Valves
 These units are safety wired as shown in Figure 5-28.
 In the case of the oil cap, the wire is anchored to an adjacent fillister head screw.
 This system applies to any other unit which must be safety wired individually.
 Ordinarily, anchorage lips are conveniently located near these individual parts.
 When such provision is not made, the safety wire is fastened to some adjacent part of the
assembly.
Electrical Connectors
 Under conditions of severe vibration, the coupling nut of a connector may vibrate loose,
and with sufficient vibration the connector may come apart.
 When this occurs, the circuit carried by the cable opens.
 The proper protective measure to prevent this occurrence is by safety wiring as shown in
Figure 5-29.
 The safety wire should be as short as practicable and must be installed in such a manner
that the pull on the wire is in the direction which tightens the nut on the plug.
Questions

1. Lock plates are used where positive retention of a nut is required..

2. To install a typical lock plate the nut is torque loaded and then (only if necessary) turned
a small amount, <1/12-revolution.
3. Lock plates usually has 12 flats to allow for adjustment.
4. The lock plate is used where the nut is frequently removed.
5. The three main types of pins used in aircraft structures. are-
6. Taper Pins and threaded taper pins (AN385 and AN386) are used in joints which carry
shear loads and where absence of play is essential.
7. The plain taper pin is drilled and usually safetied with wire.
8. Flathead Pin commonly called a clevis pin.
9. The flathead pin (MS20392) is used with tie rod terminals and in secondary controls
which are not subject to continuous operation.
10. The AN380 cadmium plated, low carbon steel cotter pin is used for safetying bolts,
screws, nuts, other pins, and in various applications where such safetying is necessary.
11. Castellated nuts are used with bolts that have been drilled for cotter pins.
12. Tapping lightly with a mallet is the best method of bending the cotter pin prongs.
13. The roll pin is a pressed fit pin with chamfered ends.
14. The roll pin is tubular in shape and is slotted the full length of the tube.
15. The roll pin is inserted with hand tools and is compressed as it is driven into place.
16. A pigtail of¼ to ½-inch (three to six twists) should be made at the end of the wiring.
17. The safety wire must be new upon each application.
18. The wire must be applied so that all pull exerted by the wire tends to tighten the nut.
19. The double twist method is the most common method of safety wiring.
20. When safety wiring widely spaced bolts by the double twist method, a group of three
should be the maximum number in a series.
21. When safety wiring closely spaced bolts, the number that can be safety wired by a 24-
inch length of wire is the maximum in a series.
22. In the case of the oil cap, the wire is anchored to an adjacent fillister head screw.