The flight crew of an A320 declared an emergency when noting a flap fault during approach to ord, il...

Attributes
ACN	559437
Time
Date	200209
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : c90.tracon
State Reference	IL
Altitude	msl single value : 5000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : c90.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	approach : visual
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 11700 flight time type : 2200
ASRS Report	559437
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	controller : provided flight assist flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : overcame equipment problem other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance Airspace Structure Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On approach to runway 27L in visual conditions, we extended the flaps to position #1 normally. After slowing to 180 KTS per ATC, we extended the flaps to position #2 and got ECAM 'fctl' flap fault. We were on approach and requested to abandon the approach. We declared emergency and requested equipment. Accepted vectors clear of the approach corridor and contacted maintenance coordinator for assistance. We had briefed for a no-flaps landing and were configured for this in case maintenance coordinator was unable to help. Reset of circuit breakers, per maintenance coordinator's instruction, returned system to normal operations. Second approach was normal and landing was normal. 'Clear' first officer was valuable asset as PF, and his input made difference between a high-speed no-flaps landing and a normal landing choice. Flight attendants were given cabin advisory early in the situation. Ord was advised that we were emergency aircraft and they had equipment standing by. Many thanks for all the good coordination. Training for this sort of event has proven useful. It should be continued.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THE FLC OF AN A320 DECLARED AN EMER WHEN NOTING A FLAP FAULT DURING APCH TO ORD, IL.

Narrative: ON APCH TO RWY 27L IN VISUAL CONDITIONS, WE EXTENDED THE FLAPS TO POS #1 NORMALLY. AFTER SLOWING TO 180 KTS PER ATC, WE EXTENDED THE FLAPS TO POS #2 AND GOT ECAM 'FCTL' FLAP FAULT. WE WERE ON APCH AND REQUESTED TO ABANDON THE APCH. WE DECLARED EMER AND REQUESTED EQUIP. ACCEPTED VECTORS CLR OF THE APCH CORRIDOR AND CONTACTED MAINT COORDINATOR FOR ASSISTANCE. WE HAD BRIEFED FOR A NO-FLAPS LNDG AND WERE CONFIGURED FOR THIS IN CASE MAINT COORDINATOR WAS UNABLE TO HELP. RESET OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS, PER MAINT COORDINATOR'S INSTRUCTION, RETURNED SYS TO NORMAL OPS. SECOND APCH WAS NORMAL AND LNDG WAS NORMAL. 'CLR' FO WAS VALUABLE ASSET AS PF, AND HIS INPUT MADE DIFFERENCE BTWN A HIGH-SPD NO-FLAPS LNDG AND A NORMAL LNDG CHOICE. FLT ATTENDANTS WERE GIVEN CABIN ADVISORY EARLY IN THE SIT. ORD WAS ADVISED THAT WE WERE EMER ACFT AND THEY HAD EQUIP STANDING BY. MANY THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD COORD. TRAINING FOR THIS SORT OF EVENT HAS PROVEN USEFUL. IT SHOULD BE CONTINUED.

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.