Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200; Flight Crew Total 8500; Flight Crew Type 1400
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Procedure; Aircraft
I was assigned PIC and the pilot flying. The weather condition was VFR with Unlimited visibility. Prior to flight; MX had informed us that the aileron disconnect light was worked on. They manually disengaged and reengaged the disconnection device to trouble shoot the cause of the aileron light being on. They believed it was a micro switch giving a false indication. We received the aircraft for our flight with the Aileron Disconnection light MEL'd and fueled for our 4.5 hour flight. Because of our heavy weight we asked for the Runway 14 which is the longer of the two runways. Before takeoff from runway 14 we performed our runway line up checklist which calls for a flight control check. After completing the checklist; I additionally asked the First Officer to try and move his yolk left and right as I held mine in place. This was to comply with the MEL's Operational Procedure. On the takeoff roll nothing felt different. On rotation or there after I felt the disconnection device disconnect and the artificial feel on the yolk went away. The aircraft was fully controllable and operational. I asked Departure that we would like to stop our climb and diagnose the problem. We noticed the yolks were disconnected then we ran the un-commanded aileron or elevator disconnection QRH procedure in the Non Annunciated section of the QRH. This simply had us pull the Affected Disconnection handle. Since we had just departed we were heavy with fuel and needed to burn off some so we could make landing weight. We held until we could make landing weight and returned and landed uneventfully.
Upon rotation the ailerons disconnected making them separate. Prior to departure we did control check as required by check list and MEL. All controls were correct and proper prior to departure. After rotation the PIC advised me the controls had disconnected; we then checked that both sides had control but separate. We were well above landing weight so we held for a while to burn sufficient fuel to make landing weight. We landed uneventfully.
EMB135 flight crew reported the ailerons spontaneously disconnected on climb out resulting in a return to the departure airport.