Thrust reverser/speed brake of DC8 fails to stow completely on descent.

Attributes
ACN	781446
Time
Date	200804
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 24000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zzz.artcc tracon : wmkk.tracon
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	DC-8 70
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 70 flight time total : 6000 flight time type : 1500
ASRS Report	781446
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 24 flight time total : 6500 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	781298
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : thrust reverser indicator
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

On descent into ZZZ; #2 and #3 thrust reversers were deployed. Upon retraction; #2 thrust reverser didn't stow. Ran the checklist; but in-transit light continued to flash. No control issues with the aircraft. Declared in-flight emergency. Called maintenance and dispatch. Recovered uneventfully; and fire department cleared us to the ramp. #2 thrust reverser stowed by itself on taxi in. All procedures; and checklists; and guidance followed to a tee. We were major heroes.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: THRUST REVERSER/SPEED BRAKE OF DC8 FAILS TO STOW COMPLETELY ON DESCENT.

Narrative: ON DSCNT INTO ZZZ; #2 AND #3 THRUST REVERSERS WERE DEPLOYED. UPON RETRACTION; #2 THRUST REVERSER DIDN'T STOW. RAN THE CHKLIST; BUT IN-TRANSIT LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH. NO CTL ISSUES WITH THE ACFT. DECLARED INFLT EMER. CALLED MAINT AND DISPATCH. RECOVERED UNEVENTFULLY; AND FIRE DEPT CLRED US TO THE RAMP. #2 THRUST REVERSER STOWED BY ITSELF ON TAXI IN. ALL PROCS; AND CHKLISTS; AND GUIDANCE FOLLOWED TO A TEE. WE WERE MAJOR HEROES.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.