Flaps failed to retract after takeoff. Flight crew diverted to original departure base.

Attributes
ACN	297336
Time
Date	199501
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : imt
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 7000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zmp tower : iad
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	297336
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Upon takeoff and climb out, I called for climb power, and flaps up. The flaps were selected to up and failed to retract. After trying several options to try and get the flaps to retract. I radioed back to our imt station to have them call our operations and ask them if they would like me to continue to our next stop, iwd or return. They advised us to return to our original departure base of esc. I then told ZMP that we had a minor mechanical malfunction, and would like to divert to esc. ZMP then approved the diversion and asked if we needed any assistance. I told them no, it was a minor problem, that the flaps would not retract. We then headed to esc and landed with no problems. After landing we had a mechanic look at the aircraft to determine what the problem was. He had discovered that a microswitch on the right flap inboard segment was bad and would not let the flaps retract.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLAPS FAILED TO RETRACT AFTER TKOF. FLC DIVERTED TO ORIGINAL DEP BASE.

Narrative: UPON TKOF AND CLBOUT, I CALLED FOR CLB PWR, AND FLAPS UP. THE FLAPS WERE SELECTED TO UP AND FAILED TO RETRACT. AFTER TRYING SEVERAL OPTIONS TO TRY AND GET THE FLAPS TO RETRACT. I RADIOED BACK TO OUR IMT STATION TO HAVE THEM CALL OUR OPS AND ASK THEM IF THEY WOULD LIKE ME TO CONTINUE TO OUR NEXT STOP, IWD OR RETURN. THEY ADVISED US TO RETURN TO OUR ORIGINAL DEP BASE OF ESC. I THEN TOLD ZMP THAT WE HAD A MINOR MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND WOULD LIKE TO DIVERT TO ESC. ZMP THEN APPROVED THE DIVERSION AND ASKED IF WE NEEDED ANY ASSISTANCE. I TOLD THEM NO, IT WAS A MINOR PROB, THAT THE FLAPS WOULD NOT RETRACT. WE THEN HEADED TO ESC AND LANDED WITH NO PROBS. AFTER LNDG WE HAD A MECH LOOK AT THE ACFT TO DETERMINE WHAT THE PROB WAS. HE HAD DISCOVERED THAT A MICROSWITCH ON THE R FLAP INBOARD SEGMENT WAS BAD AND WOULD NOT LET THE FLAPS RETRACT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.