SP1 wrote:Thanks very much for the information. It's a weird design, how bolt nuts are inaccessible after riveting. Access plates seem like a good idea.
Access plates would compromise it structurally I think, it holds the airplane's shape and equally importantly, you will sit on this piece every time you enter/exit the aircraft :-)
I would not compromise it's strength by putting big holes in it.
Perhaps a small 1" hole (just pig enough to put a spanner through) created with a hole saw might be acceptable, but you'd need to check with the factory to make sure.
In any case, drilling out the bottom rivets is just as easy.