Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, MD-11, MD-11F, and 717-200 Airplanes

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all McDonnell Douglas MD-10-10F, MD-10-30F, MD-11, MD-11F, and 717-200 airplanes. This AD requires a revision to the Limitations section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) to prohibit use of the flight management system (FMS) profile (PROF) mode for descent and/or approach operations unless certain conditions are met. This AD is promoted by a report of two violations of the selected flight control panel (FCP) altitude during FMS PROF descents. We are issuing this AD to prevent, under certain conditions during the FMS PROF descent, the uncommanded descent of an airplane below the selected level-off altitude, which could result in an unacceptable reduction in the separation between the airplane and nearby air traffic or terrain.