B737-500 diverts to alternate when flaps fail to extend beyond 10 degrees at destination.

Attributes
ACN	696657
Time
Date	200605
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 180 flight time total : 15000 flight time type : 6000
ASRS Report	696657
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 16500 flight time type : 8000
ASRS Report	696658
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : flap pos indicator other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to alternate
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On runway 27 localizer approach to ZZZ1; when we selected flaps 15 degrees; the flaps stopped at 10 degrees. We informed the tower of our flap issue and received radar vectors for another approach to runway 27. We completed the procedures in the QRH. We were still unable to extend the flaps past 10 degrees. QRH procedures extending the flaps electrically with the standby system did not work. At this point; we were at our minimum fuel to go to ZZZ2 (which was our published WX alternate). We decided due to WX; performance considerations; and approach facilities at ZZZ1 that a flaps 10 degree approach would be a safer option at ZZZ2. ZZZ2 has a longer runway; better WX and better approach facilities. We raised the flaps back up and diverted to ZZZ2. We landed uneventfully at ZZZ2 with flaps 10 degrees. Supplemental information from acn 696658: they retracted normally and we flew to ZZZ2. About 40 mi from ZZZ2; the approach controller wanted to vector us and have us slow to 200 KTS. I advised them that would not work for us and declared we were minimum fuel. They cleared us direct and we landed flaps 10 uneventfully.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-500 DIVERTS TO ALTERNATE WHEN FLAPS FAIL TO EXTEND BEYOND 10 DEGS AT DEST.

Narrative: ON RWY 27 LOC APCH TO ZZZ1; WHEN WE SELECTED FLAPS 15 DEGS; THE FLAPS STOPPED AT 10 DEGS. WE INFORMED THE TWR OF OUR FLAP ISSUE AND RECEIVED RADAR VECTORS FOR ANOTHER APCH TO RWY 27. WE COMPLETED THE PROCS IN THE QRH. WE WERE STILL UNABLE TO EXTEND THE FLAPS PAST 10 DEGS. QRH PROCS EXTENDING THE FLAPS ELECTRICALLY WITH THE STANDBY SYS DID NOT WORK. AT THIS POINT; WE WERE AT OUR MINIMUM FUEL TO GO TO ZZZ2 (WHICH WAS OUR PUBLISHED WX ALTERNATE). WE DECIDED DUE TO WX; PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS; AND APCH FACILITIES AT ZZZ1 THAT A FLAPS 10 DEG APCH WOULD BE A SAFER OPTION AT ZZZ2. ZZZ2 HAS A LONGER RWY; BETTER WX AND BETTER APCH FACILITIES. WE RAISED THE FLAPS BACK UP AND DIVERTED TO ZZZ2. WE LANDED UNEVENTFULLY AT ZZZ2 WITH FLAPS 10 DEGS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 696658: THEY RETRACTED NORMALLY AND WE FLEW TO ZZZ2. ABOUT 40 MI FROM ZZZ2; THE APCH CTLR WANTED TO VECTOR US AND HAVE US SLOW TO 200 KTS. I ADVISED THEM THAT WOULD NOT WORK FOR US AND DECLARED WE WERE MINIMUM FUEL. THEY CLRED US DIRECT AND WE LANDED FLAPS 10 UNEVENTFULLY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.