FAA Issues Airworthiness Directive for Boeing DC-10, MD-10 and MD-11s, Fuel System

FAA

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Boeing model DC-10, MD-10 and MD-11 aircraft to address a fuel system issue:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40, DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, MD-11, and MD-11F airplanes.

This AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This AD requires adding design features to detect electrical faults and to detect a pump running in an empty fuel tank.

We are issuing this AD to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

This AD is effective May 29, 2013.