Air carrier widebody transport unable extend flaps declared emergency diverted to suitable airport.

Attributes
ACN	87602
Time
Date	198805
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad
State Reference	VA
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc tracon : iad tower : lax
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Widebody, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Route In Use	enroute : direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 20000
ASRS Report	87602
Person 2
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Diverted from phl to iad dulles. Unable to extend wing flaps. WX heavy sigmets, shear and rain, etc. Used captain's authority, emergency, to receive ATC direct balance direct dulles. Vref: +45 KTS, dulles VFR, best choice for long runway. Autobrakes fail on landing, used runway 19R, ATIS reports on arrival wind 060 degrees/05 KTS. I did not want tailwind on landing 19R. When approach control contacted, approach reported wind 190 degrees/03 and VFR, so emergency authority was in part stimulated by ATIS information and possible need to be able to land on choice of runway most into wind. F/a briefed, passenger braced, trucks equipment ready, safe landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR WDB UNABLE EXTEND FLAPS DECLARED EMERGENCY DIVERTED TO SUITABLE ARPT.

Narrative: DIVERTED FROM PHL TO IAD DULLES. UNABLE TO EXTEND WING FLAPS. WX HEAVY SIGMETS, SHEAR AND RAIN, ETC. USED CAPT'S AUTHORITY, EMER, TO RECEIVE ATC DIRECT BAL DIRECT DULLES. VREF: +45 KTS, DULLES VFR, BEST CHOICE FOR LONG RWY. AUTOBRAKES FAIL ON LNDG, USED RWY 19R, ATIS RPTS ON ARR WIND 060 DEGS/05 KTS. I DID NOT WANT TAILWIND ON LNDG 19R. WHEN APCH CTL CONTACTED, APCH RPTED WIND 190 DEGS/03 AND VFR, SO EMER AUTHORITY WAS IN PART STIMULATED BY ATIS INFO AND POSSIBLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO LAND ON CHOICE OF RWY MOST INTO WIND. F/A BRIEFED, PAX BRACED, TRUCKS EQUIP READY, SAFE LNDG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 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.