B737 flaps fail to extend normally on approach.

Attributes
ACN	723033
Time
Date	200701
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p50.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 210 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	723033
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : fault isolation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

At level off from pdx; we reported to maintenance control via ACARS there was a less than one half degree split on the flap gauge. We also noted there was no roll tendency throughout flap retraction or climb out. The aircraft was hand flown through 10;000 ft until the autopilot was engaged. Upon selecting flaps 1 in phx; there was no flap movement. We leveled off at 3;000 ft and requested delay vectors. After discussing the aircraft history; a consultation with maintenance control and current aircraft in-flight tendencies; we ran the symmetrical trailing flap failure checklist utilizing the alternate flap extension procedure. We selected runway 8R; the longest available runway and made a normal 15 degree flap landing using the alternate method. During the entire procedure the aircraft was noted to be in a trim; symmetrical aerodynamic condition. Flight attendants and passenger were briefed along with a post flight debriefing given to the crew by the captain.callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter states that the lack of any rolling tendencies and their discussion with maintenance led them to use the symmetrical trailing edge flap failure checklist. Post flight analysis by maintenance determined the flap gauge to be at fault.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 FLAPS FAIL TO EXTEND NORMALLY ON APCH.

Narrative: AT LEVEL OFF FROM PDX; WE RPTED TO MAINT CTL VIA ACARS THERE WAS A LESS THAN ONE HALF DEG SPLIT ON THE FLAP GAUGE. WE ALSO NOTED THERE WAS NO ROLL TENDENCY THROUGHOUT FLAP RETRACTION OR CLIMB OUT. THE ACFT WAS HAND FLOWN THROUGH 10;000 FT UNTIL THE AUTOPILOT WAS ENGAGED. UPON SELECTING FLAPS 1 IN PHX; THERE WAS NO FLAP MOVEMENT. WE LEVELED OFF AT 3;000 FT AND REQUESTED DELAY VECTORS. AFTER DISCUSSING THE ACFT HISTORY; A CONSULTATION WITH MAINT CTL AND CURRENT ACFT INFLT TENDENCIES; WE RAN THE SYMMETRICAL TRAILING FLAP FAILURE CHKLIST UTILIZING THE ALTERNATE FLAP EXTENSION PROCEDURE. WE SELECTED RWY 8R; THE LONGEST AVAILABLE RUNWAY AND MADE A NORMAL 15 DEG FLAP LNDG USING THE ALTERNATE METHOD. DURING THE ENTIRE PROCEDURE THE ACFT WAS NOTED TO BE IN A TRIM; SYMMETRICAL AERODYNAMIC CONDITION. FLT ATTENDANTS AND PAX WERE BRIEFED ALONG WITH A POST FLT DEBRIEFING GIVEN TO THE CREW BY THE CAPTAIN.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATES THAT THE LACK OF ANY ROLLING TENDENCIES AND THEIR DISCUSSION WITH MAINT LED THEM TO USE THE SYMMETRICAL TRAILING EDGE FLAP FAILURE CHKLIST. POST FLT ANALYSIS BY MAINT DETERMINED THE FLAP GAUGE TO BE AT FAULT.

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.