CRJ700 flight crew reports flaps fail caution message during descent and no flap landing ensues.

Attributes
ACN	792719
Time
Date	200806
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zzz.tracon
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Regional Jet 700 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	792719
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial
ASRS Report	792718
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : eicas other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Upon final descent into ZZZ; ZZZ center advised us to contact ZZZ approach. I read back the frequency and at that moment the 'flap fail' caution message illuminated. I went ahead and checked on with approach. I then proceeded to follow instructions from the QRH. I advised approach that we would like an extended downwind leg to work on a mechanical malfunction. They ask if I would like to declare an emergency and I replied not at this time. (I wanted to go through the QRH checklist first) to see if the flaps would work. They did not. At the end of the checklist I declared an emergency and relayed to ATC the problem with the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CRJ700 FLT CREW REPORTS FLAPS FAIL CAUTION MESSAGE DURING DESCENT AND NO FLAP LANDING ENSUES.

Narrative: UPON FINAL DSCNT INTO ZZZ; ZZZ CTR ADVISED US TO CONTACT ZZZ APCH. I READ BACK THE FREQ AND AT THAT MOMENT THE 'FLAP FAIL' CAUTION MESSAGE ILLUMINATED. I WENT AHEAD AND CHKED ON WITH APCH. I THEN PROCEEDED TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE QRH. I ADVISED APCH THAT WE WOULD LIKE AN EXTENDED DOWNWIND LEG TO WORK ON A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THEY ASK IF I WOULD LIKE TO DECLARE AN EMER AND I REPLIED NOT AT THIS TIME. (I WANTED TO GO THROUGH THE QRH CHKLIST FIRST) TO SEE IF THE FLAPS WOULD WORK. THEY DID NOT. AT THE END OF THE CHKLIST I DECLARED AN EMER AND RELAYED TO ATC THE PROB WITH THE ACFT.

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.