MD-83
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Weather
After takeoff and just below 1;000 AGL; Tail Comp Temp Hi light illuminated. Memory items and QRH procedures were accomplished as we declared an Emergency and requested an immediate left downwind for return and landing. Flight attendants were advised [and] PA was made to passengers. Tower was told nature of problem and that we required ARFF on common frequency and Company Operations was notified. Bugs were set; checklist accomplished and we landed 10 minutes after wheels up. The offending light extinguished approximately 1.5 to 2 minutes after illuminating. After clearing the runway; ARFF examined aircraft; gave us a thumbs up and we taxied to gate. We coordinated with customer service; passengers were deplaned to a cool terminal; and Maintenance began inspecting the tail area. Dispatch was notified and we stayed on board until Maintenance no longer needed us and we were released to the hotel.
MD83 Captain experiences a Tail Comp Temp Hi light shortly after takeoff. An emergency is declared; QRH procedures are complied with and the flight returns safely to the departure airport.