CR3213-4-04 – Cherry Aerospace Textron OEM Universal Head Blind Rivet 🔩
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Overview
The Cherry Aerospace/Textron CR3213-4-04 is a high-performance, Universal Head, Locked-Spindle, Pull-Type Blind Rivet designed for structural and semi-structural applications where access is restricted to only one side of the joined assembly.1 This component is part of the esteemed CherryMAX® family of fasteners, renowned throughout the aerospace industry for their superior installed joint integrity, high shear and tensile strength, and exceptional resistance to vibration fatigue.2 As an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) part, the CR3213-4-04 meets the stringent quality and performance standards mandated by Textron Aviation (Cessna) and other airframe manufacturers utilizing Cherry Aerospace specifications.
The rivet’s unique design incorporates a visible mechanical locking feature—a collet locking sleeve that physically locks the rivet's stem (spindle) into the sleeve barrel upon installation.3 This critical feature ensures the integrity of the internal stem retention, preventing the stem from vibrating loose and falling out (mandrel drop), which is a common failure mode in non-locking blind rivets. The Universal Head configuration provides a generous bearing surface, making it suitable for standard sheet metal applications and replacements where a projecting head is acceptable, delivering excellent joint strength.4
Key Features
Locked-Spindle Design (CherryMAX® Principle): Features a unique locking collar that mechanically secures the stem to the sleeve after installation, ensuring high shear and tensile strength and complete stem retention.5
Universal Head Form: Provides a large diameter bearing area for excellent load distribution and maximum pull-through resistance.
Positive Clamping Force: Engineered for consistent, high residual preload (clamp-up) in the joint, critical for maximizing fatigue life.
Excellent Hole Fill: The expanding sleeve diameter during installation ensures a tight fit in the hole, mitigating fretting corrosion and improving shear strength.
Wider Grip Range: Designed to accommodate a greater variation in material thickness than conventional solid rivets, simplifying inventory and usage.
Technical Specifications
Part Number: CR3213-4-04
Component Type: Locked-Spindle, Pull-Type Blind Rivet
OEM Manufacturer: Cherry Aerospace (A Textron Company)
Governing Specification: Primarily manufactured to the CR3213 military/aerospace standard.
Head Type: Universal Head
Diameter Code (6$-4$): 7$1/8$ inch nominal diameter (8$0.125$ in.)9
Grip Length Code ($-04$): $4 \times 1/16$ inch, resulting in a Grip Range typically spanning from $0.126$ in. to $0.250$ in. (Refer to CherryMAX® documentation for precise range).
Material (Sleeve/Body): Aluminum Alloy (Typically 5056-H14 or a similar high-shear strength alloy).
Material (Stem/Spindle): Carbon Steel or a high-strength alloy, coated for corrosion resistance.
Finish: Aluminum sleeve is typically anodized or alodined for enhanced corrosion protection.10 Steel stem is often Cadmium or Zinc-Nickel plated.
Shear Strength: Typically meets or exceeds $29,000$ PSI minimum shear strength for the aluminum series.
Certification: Certified under relevant NAS (National Aerospace Standard) or MIL-SPEC equivalents, and FAA-PMA/TSO compliance.
Aircraft Compatibility
Primary Usage: Used extensively across the Textron Aviation product line, including Cessna Citation series, King Air turboprops, and various Cessna single-engine piston aircraft (e.g., Skyhawk, Skylane).
Structural Applications: Suitable for joining aluminum alloy sheets in non-primary and secondary structural areas, including stringer-to-skin attachments, access panels, fairings, and non-pressurized bulkheads.
Verification Note: The Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC) for the specific aircraft serial number is the definitive source for determining the correct application, type, and size of rivet.
Applications Section
The CR3213-4-04 rivet is utilized wherever high-strength, fatigue-resistant mechanical fastening is required in areas where the blind side cannot be bucked. Its primary applications include:
Field Repairs and Modifications: Ideal for maintenance applications where limited access precludes the use of two-person solid riveting.
Fuel Tank Sealing: Used in wing structures and near integral fuel tanks, as the locked stem and superior hole fill often contribute to a tighter seal (though additional sealant is always required).
Composite and Metal Stacks: The controlled installation force is beneficial when joining dissimilar materials or thin aluminum sheets.
Why Choose the CR3213-4-04 OEM Blind Rivet?
Selecting the CR3213-4-04 Cherry Aerospace rivet ensures compliance with the aircraft's original design integrity. The CherryMAX® system provides a documented, measurable improvement in fatigue life over standard blind rivets due to its positive mechanical lock and the elimination of a stress riser caused by a loose stem. Uncertified or generic blind rivets can lead to premature structural failure due to low shear values, poor hole filling, or catastrophic stem drop under vibration. Given that this rivet is designed to replace solid rivets in structural contexts, absolute material purity and dimensional precision are required to guarantee the designed $\text{S-N}$ curve (Stress-Cycle life). Trusting the Textron-specification OEM part is an essential step in maintaining the airworthiness certificate and maximum structural safety margin.
The mechanical superiority of the CherryMAX® system lies in the precision engineering of the spindle-locking mechanism. Upon pulling the stem, the rivet sleeve expands to achieve full hole-fill, crucial for achieving the minimum required bearing strength of the joint. Concurrently, the pulling action draws the conical end of the stem into the sleeve, initiating the formation of the blind head on the inaccessible side. The final, defining stage involves the swaging action of a locking collar (or collet) that is pulled over the stem's break-off groove.13 This action mechanically deforms the stem's barrel into the groove, creating a positive physical lock that prevents the stem from moving. This retention ensures the full tensile load capability of the stem is maintained within the joint, a critical parameter that distinguishes a high-strength locked-spindle rivet from a non-locking type which relies solely on friction for stem retention.
Note: The CR3213-4-04 is a single-use, flight-critical fastener. Once installed, the stem is intentionally fractured and the rivet cannot be reused. Proper installation requires the use of the specified CherryMAX® riveting tool (e.g., G-704B, G-84, etc.) equipped with the correct nosepiece to ensure the locking collar is properly swaged. Selection of the correct Grip Length ($-04$) for the material stack-up is non-negotiable; using a rivet with an incorrect grip range will result in an unacceptable joint with insufficient clamp-up or an improperly formed blind head. Installation must be performed and certified by a licensed A&P mechanic in strict accordance with the aircraft’s Structural Repair Manual (SRM) or applicable repair documentation.
Documentation
Authoritative documentation for this part is held within the aerospace standard governing the family:
Consult the Cherry Aerospace CherryMAX® Technical Data Handbook for detailed specifications on installation, grip range, and strength properties.
Consult the FAA Advisory Circular AC 43.13-1B, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices - Aircraft Inspection and Repair, Chapter 4, for general guidance on structural riveting and blind fasteners.
Genuine OEM Part
Description: BLIND RIVET
Part number: CR3213-4-04
Series: CR3213
Alternate part number: S2906-4-4, 132269A404, M7885-2-4-04, NAS9301B4-04, 30838-100
Cherrymax Rivet - Diameter: 1/8", Grip Range: 0.188" - 0.250", Universal Head, 5056 Aluminum Sleeve, Steel Stem
The CherryMAX® Rivet is the most reliable, high strength structural fastener with visual inspectability in the world today. It features the “Safe-lock” Locking Collar for more reliable joint integrity. Meets requirements of PS-CMR-3000.
CherryMAX® Rivets consist of four components assembled as a single unit:
1. A fully serrated stem with break notch, shear-ring and integral grip adjustment cone.
2. A driving anvil to insure a visible mechanical lock with each fastener installation.
3. A separate, visible and inspectable locking collar that mechanically locks the stem to the rivet sleeve.
4. A rivet sleeve with recess in the head to receive the locking collar
This part is used on the following aircraft:
- •Embraer Legacy 600-650
- •Embraer Phenom 300
- •Piaggio Avanti II
- •Textron Aviation Beechcraft King Air 200 - all variants
- •Textron Aviation Beechcraft King Air 300 - all variants
CherryMax® Datasheet [ Click Here ]
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