Nuts or nutplates on the windscreen mounts

[svyolo]

Bear tracks shows Bob using nuts on the side tabs to mount the windscreen. Anybody use nut plates?

[Mark Goldberg]

For me the reason to use nutplates is if you can not get to the bolt/screw head and the nut at the same time. In this case the nuts would be totally accessible. So I wouldn't mess with nutplates. Mark

[svyolo]

How often do you remove the windshield for maintenance? I should have above average access to the space behind the instrument panel.

[zkelley2]

Typically only to replace the windscreen. So, all but never.

[gregc]

The airframe will outlast the windscreen so while you may not replace the windscreen someone else will eventually. Have pity on them and don't make it too difficult!

[Battson]

Yes, I used nutplates.

If you have a fully enclosed pillar structure, with no exposed tubes or wiring (which I do) - then you can secure the whole assembly with screws and nutplates, and avoid using a seperate set of fasteners.

I can't access the internals of the pillar without removing those screws, and the pillar precludes access to the tabs. This is much cleaner than having a lot of exposed tubing and delicate wires, it also prevents UV damage, and perhaps most importantly - prevents passenger damage during ingress and egress.