B737 flight crew reported a flap indication problem along with controllability issues at FL210 and d...

Attributes
ACN	1581113
Time
Date	201809
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Flap Control (Trailing & Leading Edge)
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 368
Person 2
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Procedural Weight And Balance

Narrative:

During climb phase after a normal departure from ZZZ; at approximately FL210-FL220; I noticed the le flaps transit light illuminate amber and immediately notified the captain. As the pilot flying; the captain immediately instructed for me to request a descent down to FL200 and a reduction in speed to 230 knots with ATC. The captain remained pilot flying while I proceeded to run through the respective QRH for le flaps transit. Upon guidance from QRH; captain disengaged the autopilot and noticed a slight turning tendency; reaffirming that we could possibly have a #1 le krueger flap extended. The a flight attendant was then contacted and asked to inspect visually. The flight attendant returned and stated that she noticed something was possibly sticking out and it didn't feel right in her judgment. At that point; after assessing our risks; and in order to mitigate any further risk; we both agreed and elected a return to ZZZ due to proximity and facilities available. We coordinated with ATC; dispatch; and operations and headed towards ZZZ. We noted that we would be over our maximum structural landing weight and further elected to burn fuel within the vicinity of the ZZZ airport area before making an uneventful landing; while conforming with the remainder of the le flaps transit QRH procedures. We taxied back to the gate after running our brake cool procedures and the flight concluded normally.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew reported a flap indication problem along with controllability issues at FL210 and decided to return to departure airport.

Narrative: During climb phase after a normal departure from ZZZ; at approximately FL210-FL220; I noticed the LE Flaps Transit light illuminate amber and immediately notified the Captain. As the Pilot Flying; the Captain immediately instructed for me to request a descent down to FL200 and a reduction in speed to 230 knots with ATC. The Captain remained Pilot Flying while I proceeded to run through the respective QRH for LE Flaps Transit. Upon guidance from QRH; Captain disengaged the autopilot and noticed a slight turning tendency; reaffirming that we could possibly have a #1 LE Krueger flap extended. The A Flight Attendant was then contacted and asked to inspect visually. The Flight Attendant returned and stated that she noticed something was possibly sticking out and it didn't feel right in her judgment. At that point; after assessing our risks; and in order to mitigate any further risk; we both agreed and elected a return to ZZZ due to proximity and facilities available. We coordinated with ATC; Dispatch; and Operations and headed towards ZZZ. We noted that we would be over our maximum structural landing weight and further elected to burn fuel within the vicinity of the ZZZ airport area before making an uneventful landing; while conforming with the remainder of the LE Flaps Transit QRH procedures. We taxied back to the gate after running our brake cool procedures and the flight concluded normally.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.