Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10-10, -15, -30, and -40 Series Airplanes, and KC-10A (Military) Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10 series airplanes and KC-10A (military) airplanes, that requires visual inspections to detect failure of the attachments located in the banjo No. 4 fitting of the vertical stabilizer. This amendment also requires an eddy current inspection to detect cracking of the flanges and bolt holes of that fitting, and repair or replacement of attachments. This amendment is prompted by reports of failed attachments of the vertical stabilizer; the failures are attributed to fatigue. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of the fail safe capability of the vertical stabilizer due to cracking of its attachments.