Narrative:

On approach into ZZZ ILS runway 31C; we received a flaps fail caution message. Approximately 5 mi out on the approach when we attempted to go to flaps 30 degrees; we contacted ZZZ approach and notified them of the problem. They had us level at 2000 ft then climb to 4000 ft shortly after. I was flying and took control of the radios while the first officer ran the QRH checklist for flaps fail caution. We then coordinated with dispatch and maintenance via radio. Dispatch notified us that ZZZ was still a good landing site with the extra needed runway. We declared an emergency and returned to ZZZ. I decided to roll the fire trucks; etc; due to the shorter runway at ZZZ and the night conditions. These conditions; plus the extra speed and unusual landing attitude of the airplane prompted my decision on the crash fire rescue equipment. The flight attendant was briefed by the first officer and the first officer made the cabin PA concerning our problem. The second approach continued uneventfully. Supplemental information from acn 726200: dispatch determined that ZZZ runway was within the 1.22% required per the QRH. Callback conversation with reporter acn 726200 revealed the following information: reporter had no additional information on the incident.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CARJ FLT CREW DECLARES EMERGENCY AND LANDS SAFELY FOLLOWING A FLAPS FAIL MESSAGE AND APPROPRIATE CHECKLIST PROCEDURES.

Narrative: ON APCH INTO ZZZ ILS RWY 31C; WE RECEIVED A FLAPS FAIL CAUTION MESSAGE. APPROX 5 MI OUT ON THE APCH WHEN WE ATTEMPTED TO GO TO FLAPS 30 DEGS; WE CONTACTED ZZZ APCH AND NOTIFIED THEM OF THE PROB. THEY HAD US LEVEL AT 2000 FT THEN CLB TO 4000 FT SHORTLY AFTER. I WAS FLYING AND TOOK CTL OF THE RADIOS WHILE THE FO RAN THE QRH CHKLIST FOR FLAPS FAIL CAUTION. WE THEN COORDINATED WITH DISPATCH AND MAINT VIA RADIO. DISPATCH NOTIFIED US THAT ZZZ WAS STILL A GOOD LNDG SITE WITH THE EXTRA NEEDED RWY. WE DECLARED AN EMER AND RETURNED TO ZZZ. I DECIDED TO ROLL THE FIRE TRUCKS; ETC; DUE TO THE SHORTER RWY AT ZZZ AND THE NIGHT CONDITIONS. THESE CONDITIONS; PLUS THE EXTRA SPD AND UNUSUAL LNDG ATTITUDE OF THE AIRPLANE PROMPTED MY DECISION ON THE CFR. THE FLT ATTENDANT WAS BRIEFED BY THE FO AND THE FO MADE THE CABIN PA CONCERNING OUR PROB. THE SECOND APCH CONTINUED UNEVENTFULLY. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 726200: DISPATCH DETERMINED THAT ZZZ RWY WAS WITHIN THE 1.22% REQUIRED PER THE QRH. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR ACN 726200 REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR HAD NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE INCIDENT.

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.