Fastener Condition and Installation Controls
General fastener looseness indicators, classifications and installation controls.
Key reference points
- Inspect the whole joint for movement indicators.
- Permanent and removable fasteners serve different maintenance needs.
- Hole quality, tooling and final inspection remain fastener-specific.
Organised training notes
1Recognise possible looseness
Movement, tipped heads, lifted rivet edges, cracked paint, fretting stains or fluid streaks can indicate a loose or working fastener.
2Permanent fasteners
Solid rivets, lockbolts, blind fasteners and some structural bolts normally require replacement after removal unless approved data says otherwise.
3Removable fasteners
Bolts, screws, nuts, nutplates, threaded inserts, washers and pins may permit normal disassembly when their condition remains acceptable.
4Control hole and tooling quality
Use the specified hole, fastener length, installation tool, support and sealant requirement for the fastener family and joint.
5Inspect the completed joint
Check head seating, formed-head condition, surrounding material, interference or clearance requirement and any specified torque or gauge result.
This summary is not approved repair or maintenance data. Do not inspect, classify, select material, alter structure or perform a repair from this page alone. Use the current applicable SRM, AMM, engineering order, drawing and company procedures.