Narrative:

While on a visual approach to ZZZ; I requested 'flaps 45 degrees' before landing checklist. The first officer selected flaps to 45 degrees. Approximately 5 seconds later; we received a 'flaps fail' caution message. The flaps were now failed in the 30 degree position. We were in a stabilized descent at approximately 1200 ft AGL. My concern with executing a missed approach was the possibility of compounding this situation to a more dire one (ie; engine failure on the go around). I looked at the QRH and verified the required additional runway and knew we had plenty of runway to land safely. I decided to continue with the landing. I did not declare an emergency. We had an uneventful landing. Maintenance was contacted upon arriving at the gate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ-200 FLT CREW EXPERIENCED FLAPS FAIL CAUTION MESSAGE WHEN EXTENDING FLAPS ON APPROACH. AFTER CHECKING RUNWAY LENGTH THEY CONTINUED TO A NORMAL LANDING.

Narrative: WHILE ON A VISUAL APCH TO ZZZ; I REQUESTED 'FLAPS 45 DEGS' BEFORE LNDG CHKLIST. THE FO SELECTED FLAPS TO 45 DEGS. APPROX 5 SECONDS LATER; WE RECEIVED A 'FLAPS FAIL' CAUTION MESSAGE. THE FLAPS WERE NOW FAILED IN THE 30 DEG POS. WE WERE IN A STABILIZED DSCNT AT APPROX 1200 FT AGL. MY CONCERN WITH EXECUTING A MISSED APCH WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF COMPOUNDING THIS SITUATION TO A MORE DIRE ONE (IE; ENG FAILURE ON THE GAR). I LOOKED AT THE QRH AND VERIFIED THE REQUIRED ADDITIONAL RWY AND KNEW WE HAD PLENTY OF RWY TO LAND SAFELY. I DECIDED TO CONTINUE WITH THE LNDG. I DID NOT DECLARE AN EMER. WE HAD AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG. MAINT WAS CONTACTED UPON ARRIVING AT THE GATE.

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.