A B737-300 had a flap asymmetry indication with no roll motion but after the captain accidentally to...

Attributes
ACN	995317
Time
Date	201202
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Approach
Route In Use	Vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Flap/Slat Indication
Person 1
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 250 Flight Crew Type 27000
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying First Officer
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Type 8000
Events
Anomaly	ATC Issue All Types Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

While running the asymmetrical trailing edge flaps checklist; I bumped the flap switch to extend. The flap gauge immediately showed symmetric flaps at 2. Since we never had a rolling motion; I continued to extend the flaps to 30 per our original planned landing. I should have gone back to the alternate symmetric trailing edge flap checklist; and saw flaps should have been extended to 15 for landing. We asked for a vector off the localizer for inability to comply with an ATC speed restriction. I told approach we had a flap problem we needed to work out. They sent us south for a minute and then back north to re-intercept the localizer. We had a communication problem with ATC; as they kept asking me to repeat my communication. It became a distraction as I got rushed into completing the checklist; sent over to tower at about 6.7 miles; and then cleared to land. I've had asymmetric flaps before; and knew it was a handful. The first officer reported no rolling motion; so I knew the flaps weren't asymmetric; even though the gauge showed they were. If the asymmetric flaps checklist had a bold note at the top to redirect the crew back to the alternate symmetrical trailing edge flaps checklist; (in the event of no rolling motion) I might have gotten to the right checklist when things got rushed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 had a flap asymmetry indication with no roll motion but after the Captain accidentally touched the ALTERNATE FLAPS DOWN SWITCH the flaps functioned normally and the regular landing checklist was completed. The flight crew felt rushed by TRACON and did not completely troubleshoot the problem.

Narrative: While running the Asymmetrical Trailing Edge Flaps Checklist; I bumped the flap switch to extend. The flap gauge immediately showed symmetric flaps at 2. Since we never had a rolling motion; I continued to extend the flaps to 30 per our original planned landing. I should have gone back to the Alternate Symmetric Trailing Edge Flap Checklist; and saw flaps should have been extended to 15 for landing. We asked for a vector off the localizer for inability to comply with an ATC speed restriction. I told Approach we had a flap problem we needed to work out. They sent us south for a minute and then back north to re-intercept the localizer. We had a communication problem with ATC; as they kept asking me to repeat my communication. It became a distraction as I got rushed into completing the checklist; sent over to Tower at about 6.7 miles; and then cleared to land. I've had asymmetric flaps before; and knew it was a handful. The First Officer reported no rolling motion; so I knew the flaps weren't asymmetric; even though the gauge showed they were. If the Asymmetric Flaps Checklist had a bold note at the top to redirect the crew back to the Alternate Symmetrical Trailing Edge Flaps Checklist; (in the event of no rolling motion) I might have gotten to the right checklist when things got rushed.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 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.