Nut Plates

Hardware

A bolt that has to thread into a nut from behind a panel, bulkhead, or enclosure with no room to hold a wrench is a common problem in aircraft assembly and repair. Standard nuts can spin loose in that kind of blind installation, and vibration only makes it worse over time. Nut plates solve it by riveting or screwing a captive nut directly to the structure, so a bolt can be installed and removed from one side only, as many times as maintenance requires, without the nut ever coming loose on the back side. FDH Hardware stocks one of the broadest selections of aircraft nut plates in the industry, covering the MS21047 through MS21088 families, NAS577 and NAS578, the NAS1021 through NAS1035 and NAS1068 series, NAS1473 and NAS1474, the NAS1770 through NAS1795 line, BACN10JC and BACN10Y, K7000, KFN618-6, MF6000-06NL, the NA0027, NA0028, NA0073, NA0086, and NA0095-050M part numbers, and NSA and NSF nut plates. If a print calls out a part number that isn't listed in the catalog above, our sourcing team can still track it down or cross-reference an approved equivalent.

Where Nut Plates Are Used

Nut plates are riveted into wing skins, engine cowlings, access panels, fairings, and interior cabin structures wherever a removable panel needs a strong, repeatable attachment point. Anchor nut plates and fixed nut plates hold their position precisely for structural panels where the bolt hole doesn't shift, while floating nut plates allow a small amount of lateral play so the nut can self-align with a mating hole across a longer panel run. Aircraft floating nut plates are especially common on skin panels and doublers, where thermal expansion and manufacturing tolerances can move the bolt pattern slightly from one assembly to the next. Nut plates for electronics applications secure covers, chassis panels, and card cages in avionics boxes and other enclosures where there is no access to the back side of a mounting surface. FDH Electronics supports this side of the business directly for customers sourcing hardware alongside electronic components. Nut plates for defense industry programs cover much of the same ground in ground vehicles, shipboard equipment, and weapons systems, wherever the same blind-fastening problem shows up outside of an airframe.

Features to Look For

Fixed or floating nut plates. Fixed nut plates keep the nut rigidly in place. Floating nut plates let the nut shift slightly to align with the bolt hole during installation.
Self-locking nut plates. A self-locking nut plate builds a friction or nylon locking feature into the nut itself, so it resists vibration loosening without a separate locknut or safety wire.
High-strength nut plates. Built from higher-grade steel or corrosion-resistant alloys and rated for greater preload and temperature, high-strength nut plates get specified where structural loads or elevated operating temperatures rule out a standard steel part.
Lug count and rivet spacing. One-lug, two-lug, and reduced or spread rivet-spacing configurations let the same basic nut plate design fit different panel thicknesses and edge distances.
Plating and finish. Cadmium plating, passivated stainless, and other finishes protect against corrosion in the specific environment the part will see.

Nut Plate Models We Stock

Browse the full catalog above for individual part numbers, or start with a few of the most requested families:

MS21047 and the related MS21048 through MS21088 nut plates, covering the bulk of standard fixed and floating configurations used across commercial and military airframes.
NAS1473 and NAS1474, rivetless anchor nut plate assemblies used where a structure can't be drilled for a separate rivet.
NAS1770 through NAS1795, a broader family of self-locking nut plates in varying lug and thread configurations.
NAS577 and NAS578, along with the NA0027 series, covering additional fixed nut plate configurations.
K7000, KFN618-6, MF6000-06NL, BACN10JC, and BACN10Y, specialty and manufacturer-specific nut plates for programs that call out a specific part number by print.
NSA and NSF nut plates, rounding out the catalog for less common thread sizes and configurations.

For related fastening hardware, see our hardware catalog, including key-locking inserts, wire inserts, and special hardware for parts that fall outside the standard nut plate families above.

Nut Plate FAQs

What's the difference between fixed and floating nut plates?

A fixed nut plate holds the nut in one exact position, which works well when the mating bolt hole lines up consistently. A floating nut plate allows the nut a small amount of side-to-side movement so it can self-align with the bolt during installation, which helps on longer panel runs or assemblies where tolerances stack up.

Are nut plates self-locking?

Many are. A self-locking nut plate includes a friction-locking feature, often a nylon insert or deformed thread, built into the nut. That keeps the fastener from backing out under vibration without needing a separate locknut, cotter pin, or safety wire.

What materials are nut plates made from?

Most are stamped from carbon steel, corrosion-resistant steel, or aluminum alloy, with cadmium plating or passivation added depending on the environment. High-strength nut plates typically use higher-grade steel to hold up under greater loads or higher operating temperatures.

Can nut plates be used outside of aircraft structures?

Yes. Nut plates for electronics and defense industry applications rely on the same blind-fastening principle in avionics enclosures, ground vehicles, and shipboard equipment, anywhere a panel needs a strong, removable attachment point with no access to the back side.

How do I find the right nut plate for my application?

Start with the part number called out on the print or the airframe manufacturer's spec, since that determines thread size, lug configuration, and finish. Our quality program documents traceability on everything we ship, so a matched or approved equivalent part carries the same paperwork as the original.

Do you help source nut plates that aren't listed in the catalog?

Yes. If a part number isn't shown above, contact our sales team with the spec or drawing callout and we'll source it. For recurring nut plate needs across a program, our sales team also supports inventory management and forecasting, so parts stay in stock when a build calls for them.

	FDH Electronics
	Shipping Address: 3601 N I-35 Service Road Oklahoma City, OK 73111	Billing Address: PO Box 11456 Oklahoma City, OK 73136	Toll Free: 800. 324.6591 Phone: 405.427.6591 Fax: 405.424.0056 ok.sales@electroenterprises.com

FDH Electronics

Hardware

Nut Plates

Nut Plates

Where Nut Plates Are Used

Features to Look For

Nut Plate Models We Stock

Nut Plate FAQs

What's the difference between fixed and floating nut plates?

Are nut plates self-locking?

What materials are nut plates made from?

Can nut plates be used outside of aircraft structures?

How do I find the right nut plate for my application?

Do you help source nut plates that aren't listed in the catalog?

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