Narrative:

On autopilot; receiving vectors for a visual approach; the first officer was flying pilot; and started calling for flaps for landing configuration. At flaps 10 request; I positioned flap handle to 10 and then noticed that flap needles were split at left 5 and right approximately 3. The flaps were frozen at this position and the handle was set to 10. The approach was discontinued and we leveled off at 4000' and requested vectors to perform QRH procedures for a trailing edge flap asymmetry. An emergency was declared because we knew that approach speeds were going to be higher than normal. The flight attendants were briefed on our situation and I told them that a normal landing prep was required. I made a PA to inform the passengers that they would see airport equipment approach the aircraft after landing and we would eventually taxi normally to the gate. After QRH procedures were done and we were configured for an emergency flap landing; we requested to be re-vectored for landing. As we turned final I noticed that both flap needles were indicating 2; which was the same as the QRH directed handle position of 2. I elected to try flaps 5 and both flaps extended to 5. I made the determination that the flaps were functioning normally and continued to extend flaps until we were in a normal landing configuration with flaps 30. Descending through approximately 1000' I requested that the emergency be canceled and the crash fire rescue equipment vehicles were cleared back to their station. A normal; uneventful landing followed and we taxied to the gate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: The flight crew of a B737-400 prepared for an emergency landing due to a flap asymmetry. After preparations were completed the flaps returned to normal operations.

Narrative: On autopilot; receiving vectors for a visual approach; the First Officer was Flying Pilot; and started calling for flaps for landing configuration. At flaps 10 request; I positioned flap handle to 10 and then noticed that flap needles were split at Left 5 and Right approximately 3. The flaps were frozen at this position and the handle was set to 10. The approach was discontinued and we leveled off at 4000' and requested vectors to perform QRH procedures for a trailing edge flap asymmetry. An emergency was declared because we knew that approach speeds were going to be higher than normal. The flight attendants were briefed on our situation and I told them that a normal landing prep was required. I made a PA to inform the passengers that they would see airport equipment approach the aircraft after landing and we would eventually taxi normally to the gate. After QRH procedures were done and we were configured for an emergency flap landing; we requested to be re-vectored for landing. As we turned final I noticed that both flap needles were indicating 2; which was the same as the QRH directed handle position of 2. I elected to try flaps 5 and both flaps extended to 5. I made the determination that the flaps were functioning normally and continued to extend flaps until we were in a normal landing configuration with flaps 30. Descending through approximately 1000' I requested that the emergency be canceled and the CFR vehicles were cleared back to their station. A normal; uneventful landing followed and we taxied to the gate.

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.