Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 Airplanes

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 airplanes, that currently requires repetitive general visual inspections of the power feeder cables, terminal strip, fuseholder, and fuses of the galley load control unit (GLCU) within the No. 3 bay electrical power center to detect damage; and corrective actions, if necessary. That AD also currently requires replacement of the electrical wiring of the galley in the electrical power center in bays 1, 2, and 3 with larger gage cable assemblies, which terminates the repetitive inspections. This amendment removes the replacement requirement and reinstates the repetitive inspections and corrective actions if necessary. This amendment is prompted by information from the airplane manufacturer that accomplishment of the replacement required by the existing AD could result in additional wire chafing damage in the electrical power center (EPC) due to insufficient clearance from structure. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent such chafing, and consequent arcing and smoke and fire in the EPC, and to prevent damage to the wire assembly terminal lugs and overheating of the power feeder cables on the No. 3 and No. 4 galley load control unit, which could result in smoke and fire in the center accessory compartment.