Narrative:

While on approach; flaps were selected to the 45 degree position. Upon flap extension to the 45 degree position; crew was alerted by cas of a 'flaps failure.' due to our close proximity to the landing runway (less than 5 miles); and the VFR conditions; along with the previous clearance to land; we confirmed flaps were at 45 degrees via the flight controls synoptic page; discussed the situation between myself and the captain; and elected to continue the approach to landing. Upon landing; flaps were left in the 45 degree detent and maintenance was called. This situation underlines the need for an investigation into the continued 'flaps failures' of the crj-200 aircraft. This is the first time I have heard of a flaps failure at 45 degrees; but had this been: -IFR conditions -the crew performing an ILS or any instrument approach. Tower indicating the need for a go-around; a go-around for any reason. The situation would have been much more dire. As is well known; flying with the crj fully configured substantially increases fuel burn/decreases available cruising speed/decreases range and limits the pilots in maneuverability. Had we been told to execute a go-around; this event would have likely turned into an emergency situation. While this event turned out to be a safe outcome; the warning signs are there and must be taken seriously so as to prevent the continued mechanical failures of the flap system on the crj aircraft. Air carrier must take a serious and committed action into finding a solution that will eliminate the continued flaps failures on the crj aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ200 FO RPTS FLAPS FAIL EICAS AT FLAPS 45 POSITION DURING APCH. FLT CREW CONTINUES FOR NORMAL LNDG; BUT NOTES A GO-AROUND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.

Narrative: WHILE ON APCH; FLAPS WERE SELECTED TO THE 45 DEG POSITION. UPON FLAP EXTENSION TO THE 45 DEG POSITION; CREW WAS ALERTED BY CAS OF A 'FLAPS FAILURE.' DUE TO OUR CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE LNDG RWY (LESS THAN 5 MILES); AND THE VFR CONDITIONS; ALONG WITH THE PREVIOUS CLEARANCE TO LAND; WE CONFIRMED FLAPS WERE AT 45 DEGS VIA THE FLT CTLS SYNOPTIC PAGE; DISCUSSED THE SITUATION BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE CAPT; AND ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE APCH TO LNDG. UPON LNDG; FLAPS WERE LEFT IN THE 45 DEG DETENT AND MAINT WAS CALLED. THIS SITUATION UNDERLINES THE NEED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CONTINUED 'FLAPS FAILURES' OF THE CRJ-200 ACFT. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE HEARD OF A FLAPS FAILURE AT 45 DEGS; BUT HAD THIS BEEN: -IFR CONDITIONS -THE CREW PERFORMING AN ILS OR ANY INSTRUMENT APCH. TOWER INDICATING THE NEED FOR A GO-AROUND; A GO-AROUND FOR ANY REASON. THE SITUATION WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE DIRE. AS IS WELL KNOWN; FLYING WITH THE CRJ FULLY CONFIGURED SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASES FUEL BURN/DECREASES AVAILABLE CRUISING SPEED/DECREASES RANGE AND LIMITS THE PLTS IN MANEUVERABILITY. HAD WE BEEN TOLD TO EXECUTE A GO-AROUND; THIS EVENT WOULD HAVE LIKELY TURNED INTO AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. WHILE THIS EVENT TURNED OUT TO BE A SAFE OUTCOME; THE WARNING SIGNS ARE THERE AND MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY SO AS TO PREVENT THE CONTINUED MECHANICAL FAILURES OF THE FLAP SYSTEM ON THE CRJ ACFT. ACR MUST TAKE A SERIOUS AND COMMITTED ACTION INTO FINDING A SOLUTION THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE CONTINUED FLAPS FAILURES ON THE CRJ ACFT.

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