Narrative:

Captain was pilot flying. Normal flight enroute. Upon arrival at 200 KTS on the downwind for runway 10L; I requested flaps 8. When the first officer selected flaps 8; the slats fail caution message displayed. ATC allowed us to stay at our current altitude and assigned headings so that we could complete the non-normal checklist. The problem was caused by the slats not extending past zero. Flaps were fully operational. Part of the checklist was to re-calculate vref by adding 10 KTS and adjusting required runway length. We submitted a message to dispatch to notify them of our situation and get new numbers for the slats fail situation. We completed the checklist and briefed runway 10R as it had an ILS. The checklist mentioned the attitude would be different than normal so we elected to use the runway with the ILS. I briefed the flight attendants and then briefed the passengers. I told the flight attendants it would be a precautionary emergency and expected a normal landing. We received new numbers from dispatch that allowed for landing on either runway 10L or runway 10R. We elected to declare an emergency with ATC for safety reasons. We did not have an alternate (weather 10SM / clear) and took approximately 30 minutes extra to prepare for the landing without slats. I wanted to be able to begin our approach as soon as we were ready so that fuel would not become an issue. Because we had a flight control problem and were going to be flying a non-normal profile; I also felt it was safer to have declared an emergency should any issue arise. The approach and landing was uneventful. We taxid to the gate and contacted dispatch and maintenance. The first officer did a great job and was very helpful. Also; the cabin crew was also very good with their announcements and cooperation.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CRJ900 EICAS alerted SLATS FAIL as the flaps were extended. An emergency was declared and a normal no slat; full flap landing was successfully completed.

Narrative: Captain was pilot flying. Normal flight enroute. Upon arrival at 200 KTS on the downwind for Runway 10L; I requested Flaps 8. When the First Officer selected Flaps 8; the SLATS FAIL caution message displayed. ATC allowed us to stay at our current altitude and assigned headings so that we could complete the non-normal checklist. The problem was caused by the slats not extending past zero. Flaps were fully operational. Part of the checklist was to re-calculate Vref by adding 10 KTS and adjusting required runway length. We submitted a message to Dispatch to notify them of our situation and get new numbers for the slats fail situation. We completed the checklist and briefed Runway 10R as it had an ILS. The checklist mentioned the attitude would be different than normal so we elected to use the runway with the ILS. I briefed the Flight Attendants and then briefed the passengers. I told the Flight Attendants it would be a precautionary emergency and expected a normal landing. We received new numbers from Dispatch that allowed for landing on either Runway 10L or Runway 10R. We elected to declare an emergency with ATC for safety reasons. We did not have an alternate (weather 10SM / CLR) and took approximately 30 minutes extra to prepare for the landing without slats. I wanted to be able to begin our approach as soon as we were ready so that fuel would not become an issue. Because we had a flight control problem and were going to be flying a non-normal profile; I also felt it was safer to have declared an emergency should any issue arise. The approach and landing was uneventful. We taxid to the gate and contacted Dispatch and Maintenance. The First Officer did a great job and was very helpful. Also; the cabin crew was also very good with their announcements and cooperation.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.