Airworthiness Directive · Amendment 39-11866 · McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, -15, -30, -30F (KC-10A Military), and -40 Series Airplanes; and Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F Series Airplanes
McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, -15, -30, -30F (KC-10A Military), and -40 Series Airplanes; and Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F Series Airplanes
Superseded. A later AD replaced this one: AD 2001-13-22. Comply with the one in force.
Model DC-10-10, -15, -30, -30F (KC-10A military), and -40 series airplanes; and Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F series airplanes; as listed in McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC10-57A143, dated December 20, 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 (d) 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 (KC-10A military), and -40 series airplanes, and Model MD-10-10F and MD-10-30F series airplanes that requires performing repetitive ultrasonic inspections of the attaching bolts on the inboard and outboard support on the inboard and outboard flap assembly to detect failed bolts, or verifying the torque of the attaching bolts on the inboard support on the outboard flap; and follow-on actions. This AD also requires replacing all bolts with bolts made from Inconel, which constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements. This amendment is prompted by an in-flight loss of the inboard flap assembly on an airplane during approach for landing. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent in-flight loss of inboard and outboard flap assemblies due to failure of H-11 attaching bolts, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.
To prevent in-flight loss of inboard and outboard flap assemblies due to failure of H-11 attaching bolts, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane, accomplish the following:
(a) Within 2 months after the effective date of this AD, perform an ultrasonic inspection of the attaching bolts on the inboard and outboard support on the inboard and outboard flap assembly to detect failed bolts, or verify the torque of the attaching bolts on the inboard support on the outboard flap, in accordance with McDonnell Douglas Alert Service Bulletin DC10-57A143, dated December 20, 1999.
(1) If no failed bolt is found, repeat the ultrasonic inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6 months.
(2) If any failed bolt is found, prior to further flight, replace the bolt and associated parts with a new Inconel bolt and new associated parts in accordance with the service bulletin, except as provided by paragraphs (a)(2)(i) and (a)(2)(ii) of this AD. Accomplishment of the replacement constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of this AD for that bolt.
(i) If an Inconel bolt is not available for accomplishment of the replacement, replacement with a new H-11 steel bolt is acceptable provided that operators repeat the ultrasonic inspection thereafter at intervals not to exceed 6 months until the requirements of paragraph (b) of this AD are accomplished.
(ii) If a PLI washer is not available for accomplishment of the Inconel replacement, a new Inconel bolt can be temporarily installed without a new PLI washer provided that the bolt is torqued to the applicable value specified in the service bulletin. Within 6,000 flight hours after an Inconel bolt is torqued, replace the PLI washer with a new washer in accordance with the service bulletin.
(b) Within 2 years after accomplishing the initial inspection required by paragraph (a) of this AD, accomplish the action specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this AD for all H-11 bolts. Accomplishment of the replacement of all H-11 bolts with Inconcel bolts constitutes terminating action for the requirements of this AD.
(c) As of 2 years after the effective date of this AD, no person shall install, on any airplane, an H-11 steel bolt, part number 71658-8-44, 71658-7-44, 71658-7-54, 71658-7-56, 71658-7-29, 71658-9-31, 71658-9-34, 71658-9-38, 71658-9-41, 71658-10-41, 71658-7-26, 71658-7-27, or 71658-8-29, on the inboard or outboard flap assembly.
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.
