B767 crew got split flap indication on final approach. They executed a missed approach.

Attributes
ACN	407680
Time
Date	199807
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lax
State Reference	CA
Altitude	agl bound lower : 2000 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B767-300 and 300 ER
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : go around
Route In Use	arrival other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 110 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 110
ASRS Report	407680
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

We got a split flap indication with no EICAS cautions or warnings. We elected to go around. Lax tower was very busy and initially told us to fly 195 degree heading and stand by so they could coordinate. The controller then said fly to the VOR then turn to the heading. We had already turned to the assigned heading and were almost past the VOR so it was too late to turn back to the VOR. Our heading took us over a populated area just south of runway 25L at lax at approximately 2500 ft. The confusion arose because of the large number of aircraft being handled by ATC and frequency congestion.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B767 CREW GOT SPLIT FLAP INDICATION ON FINAL APCH. THEY EXECUTED A MISSED APCH.

Narrative: WE GOT A SPLIT FLAP INDICATION WITH NO EICAS CAUTIONS OR WARNINGS. WE ELECTED TO GAR. LAX TWR WAS VERY BUSY AND INITIALLY TOLD US TO FLY 195 DEG HDG AND STAND BY SO THEY COULD COORDINATE. THE CTLR THEN SAID FLY TO THE VOR THEN TURN TO THE HEADING. WE HAD ALREADY TURNED TO THE ASSIGNED HEADING AND WERE ALMOST PAST THE VOR SO IT WAS TOO LATE TO TURN BACK TO THE VOR. OUR HEADING TOOK US OVER A POPULATED AREA JUST S OF RWY 25L AT LAX AT APPROX 2500 FT. THE CONFUSION AROSE BECAUSE OF THE LARGE NUMBER OF ACFT BEING HANDLED BY ATC AND FREQ CONGESTION.

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.