Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 Series Airplanes

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 series airplanes, that currently requires the deactivation of the forward and center cargo control units (CCU). That amendment was prompted by a report of failure of a CCU, which produced overheating of the electrical pins inside the CCU; the subsequent release of hot gases and flames ignited an adjacent insulation blanket. This amendment expands the applicability of the existing AD to include additional airplanes. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent overheating of the electrical pins inside the CCU's and subsequent release of hot gases and flames, which could result in smoke and fire in the cargo compartment.