Crj 200 flight crew receives a flap fail cas message on approach.

Attributes
ACN	809862
Time
Date	200810
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 3800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 200 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	809862
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : cas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

During visual approach we received an amber cas message 'flaps fail' when selecting flaps 30 degrees. We were approximately 8 mi out of ZZZ descending through 3800 ft MSL in VMC. The first officer was the PF; and had just configured flaps 8 degrees -- flaps 20 degrees observing the new operating speed limit of 200 KTS that complies with changes to the bombardier afm. When the flaps fail message was received; we asked ATC for turn-off of visual approach due to malfunction. Approach provided us with delaying vectors while I completed QRH items; notified the flight attendant to prepare the cabin; advised company and briefed the passenger. I then fully advised approach of our situation 'declaring an emergency;' and asked for equipment to be standing by for our arrival. I then xferred controls with the first officer becoming the PF. The approach was flown at vref flaps 20 degrees for a 42000 pound aircraft as per poh and QRH. Touchdown was near normal with minimum brake heating. We taxied clear of runway; and then to gate with no assistance. The event occurred due to flap system malfunction. CRJ200's have a history of flap failures; please reference airworthiness directive 2007-17-07.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ 200 FLT CREW RECEIVES A FLAP FAIL CAS MESSAGE ON APCH.

Narrative: DURING VISUAL APCH WE RECEIVED AN AMBER CAS MESSAGE 'FLAPS FAIL' WHEN SELECTING FLAPS 30 DEGS. WE WERE APPROX 8 MI OUT OF ZZZ DSNDING THROUGH 3800 FT MSL IN VMC. THE FO WAS THE PF; AND HAD JUST CONFIGURED FLAPS 8 DEGS -- FLAPS 20 DEGS OBSERVING THE NEW OPERATING SPD LIMIT OF 200 KTS THAT COMPLIES WITH CHANGES TO THE BOMBARDIER AFM. WHEN THE FLAPS FAIL MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED; WE ASKED ATC FOR TURN-OFF OF VISUAL APCH DUE TO MALFUNCTION. APCH PROVIDED US WITH DELAYING VECTORS WHILE I COMPLETED QRH ITEMS; NOTIFIED THE FLT ATTENDANT TO PREPARE THE CABIN; ADVISED COMPANY AND BRIEFED THE PAX. I THEN FULLY ADVISED APCH OF OUR SITUATION 'DECLARING AN EMER;' AND ASKED FOR EQUIP TO BE STANDING BY FOR OUR ARR. I THEN XFERRED CTLS WITH THE FO BECOMING THE PF. THE APCH WAS FLOWN AT VREF FLAPS 20 DEGS FOR A 42000 LB ACFT AS PER POH AND QRH. TOUCHDOWN WAS NEAR NORMAL WITH MINIMUM BRAKE HEATING. WE TAXIED CLR OF RWY; AND THEN TO GATE WITH NO ASSISTANCE. THE EVENT OCCURRED DUE TO FLAP SYS MALFUNCTION. CRJ200'S HAVE A HISTORY OF FLAP FAILURES; PLEASE REF AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE 2007-17-07.

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.