Tool for removal of spring clip from a nut plate assembly and associated method

A method for removal of a spring clip from a nut plate assembly, comprising:

• rotatably disposing an outer sleeve having a second grip tab around a portion of an inner sleeve having a first grip tab, the first grip tab and the second grip tab respectively extending radially from a longitudinally extending central axis of the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve and the first and second grip tabs being normally biased away from each other;
• engaging an outer surface of a first end of the spring clip using a first cleat disposed at an end of the inner sleeve and engaging an outer surface of a second end of the spring clip using a second cleat disposed at an end of the outer sleeve;
• and
• moving the first grip tab and the second grip tab towards each other to rotate the inner sleeve relative to the outer sleeve to cause the first cleat and the second cleat to rotate towards each other to engage the outer surfaces of the first and second ends of the spring clip and urge the first and second ends together to enable the spring clip to be removed from an assembled nut plate.