Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F, DC-10-30F (KC10A and KDC-10), DC-10-40, DC-10-40F, MD-10-10F, and MD-10-30F Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas airplane models. This amendment requires repetitive inspections for chafing or potential chafing of the wiring for the throttle control module (TCM) on the center pedestal in the flight deck compartment, corrective actions if necessary, an inspection of the TCM to determine its part number and configuration, and modification of the TCM. Doing this modification terminates the repetitive inspections. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent chafing of wiring inside the TCM, fuel shutoff lever lights, and/or aft pedestal lightplates due to degradation of protective sleeving, which could result in electrical arcing and failure of the auto throttle/ speed control system and consequent smoke and/or fire in the cockpit.