Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-11716 · McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, -15, -30, -30F, and -40 Series Airplanes, and KC-10A (Military) Airplanes
McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, -15, -30, -30F, and -40 Series Airplanes, and KC-10A (Military) Airplanes
Model DC-10-10, -15, -30, -30F, and -40 series airplanes, and KC-10A (military) airplanes, as listed in McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC10-24A161, dated October 29, 1999; certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each airplane identified in the preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the requirements of this AD. For airplanes that have been modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to address it.
This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, -15, -30, -30F, and -40 series airplanes, and KC-10A (military) airplanes, that requires a one-time general visual inspection of circuit breakers to determine the manufacturer of the circuit breakers, and corrective action, if necessary. This amendment is prompted by incidents of smoke and electrical odor in the flight compartment and cabin area as a result of failure of circuit breakers. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent internal overheating and arcing of circuit breakers and airplane wiring due to long-term use and breakdown of internal components of the circuit breakers, which could result in smoke and fire in the flight compartment and main cabin.
To prevent internal overheating and arcing of circuit breakers and airplane wiring due to long-term use and breakdown of internal components of the circuit breakers, which could result in smoke and fire in the flight compartment and main cabin, accomplish the following:
(a) Within 24 months after effective date of this AD: Perform a one-time general visual inspection of circuit breakers to determine the manufacturer of the circuit breaker in accordance with McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC10-24A161, dated October 29, 1999.
Note 2: For the purposes of this AD, a general visual inspection is defined as: “A visual examination of an interior or exterior area, installation, or assembly to detect obvious damage, failure, or irregularity. This level of inspection is made under normally available lighting conditions such as daylight, hangar lighting, flashlight, or drop-light, and may require removal or opening of access panels or doors. Stands, ladders, or platforms may be required to gain proximity to the area being checked.”
(1) If no Wood Electric Corporation or Wood Electric Division of Potter Brumfield Corporation circuit breaker is found, no further action is required by this paragraph.
(2) If any Wood Electric Corporation or Wood Electric Division of Potter Brumfield Corporation circuit breaker is found, at the next scheduled maintenance visit, but not later than 24 months after the effective date of this AD, replace the circuit breaker with a new circuit breaker in accordance with the service bulletin.
(b) As of the effective date of this AD, no person shall install, on any airplane, a circuit breaker, part number 104-205-104, 104-210-104, 104-215-104, 104-220-104, 104-225-104, 104-230-104, 104-235-104, 104-250-104, 447-205-102, 448-205-102, 505-205-102, 506-205-102, 447-507-102, 448-507-102, 505-507-102, 506-507-102, 447-210-102, 448-210-102, 505-210-102, 506-210-102, 447-215-102, 448-215-102, 505-215-102, 506-215-102, 447-220-102, 448-220-102, 505-220-102, 506-220-102, 447-225-102, 448-225-102, 505-225-102, 506-225-102, 448-235-102, 505-235-102, 506-235-102.
The aircraft, engines and makers this AD names, by the model designations in its text. A model listed here may still be outside the AD's serial ranges.
