Narrative:

After departing ZZZ runway 9L selecting flaps to 0/ext flap tapes remained in the takeoff setting. ZZZ maintenance asked us to perform certain tasks all had no effect on the flap position tapes. We were instructed to return to ZZZ. After checking that the runway length was suitable for our landing configuration we notified ATC, declared an emergency, and commenced a fuel dump to reduce our landing weight. We commenced an approach for runway 9L ZZZ 0/ext landing. On taxi in after accomplishing the 'after landing checklist' which calls for flaps up slats retract, the flap tapes dropped to 30 which was confirmed by ZZZ maintenance upon arrival at the gate. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated between 4000 ft and 5000 ft when the flap handle was placed to up the trailing edge flaps remained at the takeoff position. The reporter said maintenance requested several checks be accomplished prior to returning to the field which were accomplished. The reporter stated fuel was dumped to the dump limits and the airplane was landed within weight limits. The reporter stated on the ground with the flap handle in full retract 0 degrees flap the flaps extended to 30 degrees and remained in this position. The reporter said maintenance was upset with the crew about the declared emergency, as they would now be forced to correct the flap problem, and they were now checking ok on the ground. The reporter said the problem was corrected with a flap control valve replacement.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC-10-10 ON TKOF CLB BTWN 4000 FT AND 5000 FT DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO LOSS OF TRAILING EDGE FLAP CTL. CAUSED BY A FAILED FLAP CTL VALVE.

Narrative: AFTER DEPARTING ZZZ RWY 9L SELECTING FLAPS TO 0/EXT FLAP TAPES REMAINED IN THE TKOF SETTING. ZZZ MAINT ASKED US TO PERFORM CERTAIN TASKS ALL HAD NO EFFECT ON THE FLAP POSITION TAPES. WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO ZZZ. AFTER CHECKING THAT THE RWY LENGTH WAS SUITABLE FOR OUR LNDG CONFIGURATION WE NOTIFIED ATC, DECLARED AN EMER, AND COMMENCED A FUEL DUMP TO REDUCE OUR LNDG WT. WE COMMENCED AN APCH FOR RWY 9L ZZZ 0/EXT LNDG. ON TAXI IN AFTER ACCOMPLISHING THE 'AFTER LNDG CHKLIST' WHICH CALLS FOR FLAPS UP SLATS RETRACT, THE FLAP TAPES DROPPED TO 30 WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY ZZZ MAINT UPON ARR AT THE GATE. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED BTWN 4000 FT AND 5000 FT WHEN THE FLAP HANDLE WAS PLACED TO UP THE TRAILING EDGE FLAPS REMAINED AT THE TKOF POSITION. THE RPTR SAID MAINT REQUESTED SEVERAL CHECKS BE ACCOMPLISHED PRIOR TO RETURNING TO THE FIELD WHICH WERE ACCOMPLISHED. THE RPTR STATED FUEL WAS DUMPED TO THE DUMP LIMITS AND THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED WITHIN WT LIMITS. THE RPTR STATED ON THE GND WITH THE FLAP HANDLE IN FULL RETRACT 0 DEGS FLAP THE FLAPS EXTENDED TO 30 DEGS AND REMAINED IN THIS POS. THE RPTR SAID MAINT WAS UPSET WITH THE CREW ABOUT THE DECLARED EMER, AS THEY WOULD NOW BE FORCED TO CORRECT THE FLAP PROB, AND THEY WERE NOW CHECKING OK ON THE GND. THE RPTR SAID THE PROB WAS CORRECTED WITH A FLAP CTL VALVE REPLACEMENT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.