Air carrier large transport flap indication problem delayed takeoff.

Attributes
ACN	110557
Time
Date	198905
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dsm
State Reference	IA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 15 flight time type : 15
ASRS Report	110557
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While taxiing for takeoff on flight from dsm to minneapolis, the crew discovered the flap gauges showing an asymmetric situation. Outboard indicated 15 degrees down, inboards up and a blue leading edge indicator. A visibility check confirmed that the flaps agreed with the indicators. The captain moved the flaps briefly with the alternate flap switch and stopped when he saw needle movement. He then raised the flaps (outboards) with the flap lever. He then lowered the flaps with the handle and both inboard and outboard flap gauges responded to all settings selected. Another visibility check confirmed the flaps were corresponding to flap lever movement. The captain set 15 degrees/15 degrees/blue and sent the IOE instrument to once again perform a visibility check. The visibility check confirmed that the flaps were indeed 15/15, so the decision was made to execute the takeoff for minneapolis. The captain discussed with the crew the fact that WX conditions all the way to msp were VMC, so if the flaps did not come up there would be no problem making our destination. The captain also made sure the whole crew was comfortable with the decision to continue, the decision was unanimous because of the visibility confirmation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR LGT FLAP INDICATION PROBLEM DELAYED TKOF.

Narrative: WHILE TAXIING FOR TKOF ON FLT FROM DSM TO MINNEAPOLIS, THE CREW DISCOVERED THE FLAP GAUGES SHOWING AN ASYMMETRIC SITUATION. OUTBOARD INDICATED 15 DEGS DOWN, INBOARDS UP AND A BLUE LEADING EDGE INDICATOR. A VIS CHK CONFIRMED THAT THE FLAPS AGREED WITH THE INDICATORS. THE CAPT MOVED THE FLAPS BRIEFLY WITH THE ALTERNATE FLAP SWITCH AND STOPPED WHEN HE SAW NEEDLE MOVEMENT. HE THEN RAISED THE FLAPS (OUTBOARDS) WITH THE FLAP LEVER. HE THEN LOWERED THE FLAPS WITH THE HANDLE AND BOTH INBOARD AND OUTBOARD FLAP GAUGES RESPONDED TO ALL SETTINGS SELECTED. ANOTHER VIS CHK CONFIRMED THE FLAPS WERE CORRESPONDING TO FLAP LEVER MOVEMENT. THE CAPT SET 15 DEGS/15 DEGS/BLUE AND SENT THE IOE INSTR TO ONCE AGAIN PERFORM A VIS CHK. THE VIS CHK CONFIRMED THAT THE FLAPS WERE INDEED 15/15, SO THE DECISION WAS MADE TO EXECUTE THE TKOF FOR MINNEAPOLIS. THE CAPT DISCUSSED WITH THE CREW THE FACT THAT WX CONDITIONS ALL THE WAY TO MSP WERE VMC, SO IF THE FLAPS DID NOT COME UP THERE WOULD BE NO PROB MAKING OUR DEST. THE CAPT ALSO MADE SURE THE WHOLE CREW WAS COMFORTABLE WITH THE DECISION TO CONTINUE, THE DECISION WAS UNANIMOUS BECAUSE OF THE VIS CONFIRMATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.