AD 78-20-02

final rule
Data completeness: 70%

Airworthiness Directives; MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10, -10F, -30, -30F, and -40 Airplanes

AD Number
78-20-02
Status
final_rule
Effective Date
Product Category
aircraft
Docket
Unknown
FR Citation
This information is not available.

Applicability

TypeManufacturerModelDetails
aircraft The Boeing Company DC-10-10 Airworthiness Directives; MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10, -10F, -30, -30F, and -40 Airplanes
aircraft The Boeing Company DC-10-10F Airworthiness Directives; MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10, -10F, -30, -30F, and -40 Airplanes
aircraft The Boeing Company DC-10-30 Airworthiness Directives; MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10, -10F, -30, -30F, and -40 Airplanes
aircraft The Boeing Company DC-10-30F (KC-10A, KDC-10) Airworthiness Directives; MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10, -10F, -30, -30F, and -40 Airplanes
aircraft The Boeing Company DC-10-40 Airworthiness Directives; MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10, -10F, -30, -30F, and -40 Airplanes

Unsafe Condition

Damage to the horizontal stabilizer attachment structure due to stabilizer drive chain failures.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Required Actions

Inspect horizontal stabilizer drive chains for integrity and engagement every 90 hours' time in service. Inspect side links for fractures or damage every 1200 hours' time in service, replacing chains if damage is found. Replace specific chain part numbers with SK14869-120 or SK14869-220 within 4,000 hours' time in service.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Compliance Time

Within 90 hours' time in service after the effective date of this AD and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 90 hours' time in service; within the next 400 hours' time in service after the effective date and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1200 hours' time in service; within the next 4,000 hours' time in service after the effective date.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Affected Aircraft

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10-10, -10F, -30, -30F, and -40 airplanes with Part No. SK12280-120, SK12280A120, SK12280-220, or SK12280A220 horizontal stabilizer drive chain with 6,000 or more hours' time in service on the chain.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Source: Official FAA Source ↗

Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026

Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain

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