AD 80-02-18

80-02-18 MCDONNELL DOUGLAS: Amendment 39-3677. Applies to McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, -10F, -30, -30F, and -40 airplanes certificated in all categories utilizing the following passenger evacuation systems manufactured by the PICO Division of Sargent Industries: (Subsequent production serial numbers are not affected.)

PART NUMBER SERIAL NUMBER 5LS230100-( ) A0001-A0091 5LD230300-( ) B0001-B0093 5LD230500-( ) C0001-C0086 5LD230600-( ) D0001-D0081 5LD260100-( ) E0001-E0087 5WD230100-( ) AA001-AA420 5WD230500-( ) CC001-CC169 5WD230600-( ) DD001-DD178 5WD260100-( ) EE001-EE792

Compliance required within the next eighteen calendar months after the effective date of this AD, unless already accomplished.

To prevent failure of the Sargent Industries, PICO Division emergency evacuation system due to inflation hose end fitting failure accomplish the following:

(a) Visually inspect the passenger evacuation system inflation hoses in accordance with PICO Service Bulletin No. DC-10-25-78, Revision 2, dated December 5, 1979, to determine which hoses have end fittings configured as shown in Figure 2 of the PICO Service Bulletin.

(b) Inflation hose assemblies with end fittings configured as shown in Figure 2 of the PICO Service Bulletin, must be modified in accordance with Subpart 2, "Accomplishment Instructions," of PICO Service Bulletin No. DC-10-25-78 Revision 2, dated December 5, 1979, or each replaced with an approved production hose assembly part number (P/N) 720111-101 in accordance with appropriate maintenance manual procedures.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with FAR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate airplanes to a base for the accomplishment of inspections required by this AD.

(d) Alternative inspections, modifications or other actions which provide an equivalent level of safety may be used when approved by the Chief, Aircraft Engineering Division, FAA Western Region.

This amendment becomes effective March 3, 1980.