Date: 201406
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Final Approach
Airspace: Class B ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Trailing Edge Flap
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Detector: Automation Aircraft Other Automation; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Flaps Fail Caution Message while on approach. I; as the First Officer (FO); was pilot flying (PF) at the time of the event; and a go-around was initiated. I continued to fly the aircraft on vectors given from ATC while the Captain; pilot not flying (PNF); reviewed and ran the QRH Checklist. At the end of the checklist; the controls were swapped; and the Captain became the PF. An emergency was then declared (as a precaution due to the proximity of Vref to Max tire speed; and flight control malfunction). Initially; we returned for a landing on the same runway; but when updated winds presented a tailwind for landing; we opted for a different runway. This required a circling-type maneuver from our present position; and we were essentially cleared for a visual approach from the downwind. The landing was executed very well by the Captain. The taxi in was uneventful. Flaps failed at 6 degrees on one side and 8 degrees on the other. The aircraft was written up for the same issue the previous night (which was its previous flight); and had recurrent write-ups for the SAME issue MULTIPLE times in the previous 30 days. Please ensure that aircraft are actually fixed rather than bandaged with an AD/MEL or similar; and then cleared to fly. With paying passengers....people; families; children; etc.... on board; there is no reason why the aircraft should continue to be flown without actually being fixed. Unfortunately; flaps are pretty important to the safety of flight; and a recurring 'Write-Up' throws up the red flag; regardless of what an AD might be interpreted to state or 'legally' allow.  Furthermore; if the airline decides to use the AD as a bandage to squeeze out another revenue flight (rather than actually being fixed); a more comprehensive procedure/profile or guidance should be in place to land the aircraft with a flap failure. I.e. If longer runways are not available to account for the 'float' experienced when the aircraft is in ground effect; guidance on an effective pitch attitude/seat position/etc would be appreciated... to minimize the loss of runway at such a high Vref.




Synopsis: CRJ200 First Officer experiences a flap Fail Caution Message during approach and goes around. An approach and landing at the current flap setting is planned and executed by the Captain. The aircraft had a long history of flaps Fail Caution Messages.