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, MD-10-30F, MD-11, and MD-11F Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas airplane models. This action requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include new operating limitations, installing placards to advise the flightcrew of certain minimum fuel levels to be maintained in the fuel tanks, and deactivating certain auxiliary fuel tanks. For fuel tanks that are not deactivated, this AD also requires replacement of certain existing fuel boost/transfer pumps with pumps inspected--and modified, if necessary-- per certain procedures. Accomplishment of this replacement will allow operators to remove the operating limitations from the AFM, remove the placards, and reactivate the auxiliary fuel tanks (if deactivated). This action is necessary to prevent electrical arcing in the connector for a fuel boost/transfer pump, which could result in a fire or explosion of a fuel tank. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.