Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 Series Airplanes

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 series airplanes, that requires a one-time inspection to detect riding, chafing, or damage of the wire bundles adjacent to the disconnect panel bracket of the observer's station. This amendment also requires repair or replacement of damaged wires with new or serviceable wires; installation of anti-chafing sleeving on the wire bundles, if necessary; and installation of grommet along the entire upper aft edge of the disconnect panel bracket. This amendment is prompted by a report indicating that the circuit breakers tripped on a Model MD-11 series airplane due to inflight arcing behind the avionics circuit breaker panel as a result of chafing of the wire bundles adjacent to the disconnect panel bracket assembly. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect and correct such chafing, which could result in a fire in the wire bundles and smoke in the cockpit.