A Boeing airliner flight crew conducted a go around upon receipt of a LE FLAP ASYM EICAS warning. After resolving the flight control issue they were cleared for an ILS approach and followed a false glide slope until becoming visual well prior to the airport. They later learned the ILS for the opposite direction runway was operating.

2011-01 · NASA ASRS report 930349

Date: 2011-01 · Aircraft: Boeing Company Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: approach

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|inflight-event-encounter-cftt-cfit

Synopsis

A Boeing airliner flight crew conducted a go around upon receipt of a LE FLAP ASYM EICAS warning. After resolving the flight control issue they were cleared for an ILS approach and followed a false glide slope until becoming visual well prior to the airport. They later learned the ILS for the opposite direction runway was operating.

Narrative

We were flying a flat panel aircraft and at about 7;000 when I asked for flaps to one. We got the warnings for a LE FLAP ASYM and declared an emergency. They descended us to 5;000 and gave us vectors. The First Officer did an excellent job completing the QRH check-lists to resolve the problem. As soon as we were cleared for the approach we went IMC. Unbeknown to us and ATC the glide slope was not working. We briefly followed a false glide slope for which we received no warnings; no flags. During the descent we both became acutely aware that something was wrong. Breaking out of the overcast nothing looked familiar. We asked ATC where we were. They gave us the heading that we were flying and to maintain 1;900 MSL; an altitude which was above us. Shortly after we saw the airport and proceeded to an uneventful landing.I then called the Tower Manager who said the technicians had passed the word that the ILS was up and running. What they meant was the opposite direction runway's was; not the approach we were on.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.

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