AD NUMBER: 2005-13-18
MANUFACTURER: McDonnell Douglas
SUBJECT: Airworthiness Directive 2005-13-18
SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain SAFT America Inc. part number (P/N) 021929-000 (McDonnell Douglas P/N 43B034LB02) and P/N021904-000 (McDonnell Douglas P/N 43B034LB03) nickel cadmium batteries. That AD currently requires replacing all battery terminal screws, verifying that the battery contains design specification cells, and replacing the cells if the battery contains non-design specification cells.

This new AD requires an inspection for certain nickel cadmium batteries and, if necessary, replacing battery terminal screws with new hex head bolts and adding shims. This AD is prompted by a report of battery screws shearing off while under normal torque loads. We are issuing this AD to prevent internal shorting, arcing, and loss of emergency battery power due to failed battery screws, which could result in loss of emergency power to electrical flight components or other emergency power systems required in the event of loss of the aircraft primary power source.

FMI: www.airweb.faa.gov/ad