Narrative:

We were turning base to final for the visual to runway 1 at dca and extending flaps for landing. While extending flaps 10 degrees, we got a leading edge flap in-transit light on the forward instrument panel while we were on final approach. We then broke off the approach and got radar vectors while we were doing the irregular procedure. We accomplished the 'leading edge flap transit light (forward panel) on' irregular checklist. We then tried to contact dispatch via voice and were not successful. We could hear them, however, they couldn't hear us. We were at 3000 ft MSL and I suspect that this was part of the problem, in being at a low altitude. I then consulted the irregular landing distribution chart that told us we needed 3500 ft for landing, which was ok for our runway. We were finally able to get an ACARS message off to dispatch and told them our problem and that we felt it was ok to land at dca. They agreed and, in turn, declared an emergency on our behalf. Additionally, we declared an emergency ourselves. I told the flight attendants to prepare a cabin advisory. We then told ATC we were ready to land and landed uneventfully. On rollout, I had the first officer tell the flight attendants to remain seated. This action was probably not necessary, seeing that I had the cabin prepare for an advisory. We then pulled off into the runway 19 run-up pad and requested the emergency equipment to inspect the brakes, which turned out to be fine. We then proceeded to the gate and were met by maintenance. I then called dispatch and conferred with them.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737 CAPT RPTED THAT A LEADING EDGE FLAP PROB CAUSED HIM TO EXECUTE THE MISSED APCH AT DCA AND THEN TO DECLARE AN EMER AND RETURN FOR LNDG.

Narrative: WE WERE TURNING BASE TO FINAL FOR THE VISUAL TO RWY 1 AT DCA AND EXTENDING FLAPS FOR LNDG. WHILE EXTENDING FLAPS 10 DEGS, WE GOT A LEADING EDGE FLAP IN-TRANSIT LIGHT ON THE FORWARD INST PANEL WHILE WE WERE ON FINAL APCH. WE THEN BROKE OFF THE APCH AND GOT RADAR VECTORS WHILE WE WERE DOING THE IRREGULAR PROC. WE ACCOMPLISHED THE 'LEADING EDGE FLAP TRANSIT LIGHT (FORWARD PANEL) ON' IRREGULAR CHKLIST. WE THEN TRIED TO CONTACT DISPATCH VIA VOICE AND WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. WE COULD HEAR THEM, HOWEVER, THEY COULDN'T HEAR US. WE WERE AT 3000 FT MSL AND I SUSPECT THAT THIS WAS PART OF THE PROB, IN BEING AT A LOW ALT. I THEN CONSULTED THE IRREGULAR LNDG DISTRIBUTION CHART THAT TOLD US WE NEEDED 3500 FT FOR LNDG, WHICH WAS OK FOR OUR RWY. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO GET AN ACARS MESSAGE OFF TO DISPATCH AND TOLD THEM OUR PROB AND THAT WE FELT IT WAS OK TO LAND AT DCA. THEY AGREED AND, IN TURN, DECLARED AN EMER ON OUR BEHALF. ADDITIONALLY, WE DECLARED AN EMER OURSELVES. I TOLD THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO PREPARE A CABIN ADVISORY. WE THEN TOLD ATC WE WERE READY TO LAND AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY. ON ROLLOUT, I HAD THE FO TELL THE FLT ATTENDANTS TO REMAIN SEATED. THIS ACTION WAS PROBABLY NOT NECESSARY, SEEING THAT I HAD THE CABIN PREPARE FOR AN ADVISORY. WE THEN PULLED OFF INTO THE RWY 19 RUN-UP PAD AND REQUESTED THE EMER EQUIP TO INSPECT THE BRAKES, WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE FINE. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO THE GATE AND WERE MET BY MAINT. I THEN CALLED DISPATCH AND CONFERRED WITH THEM.

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.