EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
[We were] about 15-20 miles out; on a dogleg downwind. I was the pilot flying. Upon descending through 10;000 AGL; with the autopilot disengaged and below 250 KIAS I called for flaps 9. We immediately received a FLAP FAIL caution on the EICAS. The flaps indicated 0; with the flap lever in the '9' position. While the Captain ran the appropriate QRH I re-engaged the autopilot; leveled the airplane at our previously assigned altitude of 6;000 AGL and began to slow to about 180 KTS. We informed Center of our situation; that we'd need a minute to work the problem and declared an emergency. I continued to fly the airplane northwest of the airport while we figured things out. It was apparent early on that we did not have much fuel to work with (about 2;300 LBS remaining). The QRH brought us to adjusted performance numbers for no flap landing (1.65 times actual flaps 45 distance). The new landing distance with flaps 0 was about 4;600 FT and the runway was about 6;500 FT. The closest airport with a longer runway was too far given our fuel. We decided to continue the approach to our destination. While I coordinated with ops to get emergency equipment ready the Captain took control of the aircraft. It took roughly 5 minutes for emergency vehicles to get into position during which we ran the performance numbers again and briefed the flight attendant. We discussed the approach; and what we would do on the landing rollout. We would both apply full brakes. The approach was successful. We touched down a little bit prior to the fixed distance marker. We both applied full brakes; and full reverse. The aircraft stopped in about 3;500 FT with plenty of runway remaining. We taxied off the runway; parked at the gate and had an aircraft relay to Center that we were on the ground.The FLAP FAIL coupled with low fuel meant we had little time to make a decision. Many tasks needed to be accomplished in a short time in order to set up properly for the no flap landing. The approach and landing was uneventful.
[I] tried to ACARS Dispatch; but no reply. I was very tired. I got only six hours of sleep the night before and had been up since 7 am. It was along day of air starts and weather in the morning. This event happened unexpectedly and my crew handled it wonderfully. The First Officer has only been here 2 years or so and this was my first no flaps landing and his out side of simulator training. Overall a very large unexpected work load with not a lot of choices to go to in that part of the country. The aircraft was never in an undesired state at any point. We landed fine and stopped with full braking and thrust reverse. I didn't have an opportunity to explain to the passengers what was going on. Instead I told the flight attendant that we had flap problems and to brace for a possible hard landing. He relayed the message to the passengers for us.
An EMB-145 flight crew conducted an uneventful zero flap approach and landing at their remote destination when the flaps failed to extend.