Narrative:

On descent; the flaps drive EICAS and status messages annunciated. The outboard trailing edge flaps failed to extend to the commanded flaps 5 position. The flap handle was at the flaps 5 position. We referenced the QRH and aom for the appropriate checklists. Aircraft position was approximately 8;000 ft/230 KTS/ 570;000 pounds. We discontinued the approach and got extended vectors from approach control as we ran the checklists. We contacted the company via satcom to inform the dispatcher and maintenance control of the situation and status of the aircraft. Explained the situation to verify there wasn't anything that the crew might have missed. Afterwards satcom was terminated. We declared an emergency; requested fire truck assistance and commenced the approach. Approach was uneventful except for loss of 10 KTS at 600 and 400 ft; which we reported to ATC. Wind was 290 at 16 KTS. Touchdown was uneventful. The aircraft exited [well before the end of the runway]. The brake temperature EICAS message annunciated for the #5 brake; for which we informed ground personnel. The flaps were not retracted so maintenance could assess what made the flaps not operate normally.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B747 flight crew experiences a flap drive failure while attempting to extend flaps to 5 during approach. An emergency is declared and a partial flap landing ensues.

Narrative: On descent; the FLAPS DRIVE EICAS and STATUS messages annunciated. The outboard Trailing Edge Flaps failed to extend to the commanded flaps 5 position. The flap handle was at the flaps 5 position. We referenced the QRH and AOM for the appropriate checklists. Aircraft position was approximately 8;000 FT/230 KTS/ 570;000 LBS. We discontinued the approach and got extended vectors from Approach Control as we ran the checklists. We contacted the company via SATCOM to inform the Dispatcher and Maintenance Control of the situation and status of the aircraft. Explained the situation to verify there wasn't anything that the crew might have missed. Afterwards SATCOM was terminated. We declared an emergency; requested fire truck assistance and commenced the approach. Approach was uneventful except for loss of 10 KTS at 600 and 400 FT; which we reported to ATC. Wind was 290 at 16 KTS. Touchdown was uneventful. The aircraft exited [well before the end of the runway]. The BRAKE TEMP EICAS message annunciated for the #5 brake; for which we informed ground personnel. The flaps were not retracted so Maintenance could assess what made the flaps not operate normally.

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.