B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 155; Flight Crew Type 985
Confusion; Time Pressure; Communication Breakdown
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
On takeoff from [Runway] XXR in ZZZ; we experienced a stab trim failure when we became airborne. I was the Pilot Monitoring and my Captain was the Pilot Flying. After rotating and in the first 500-1000 feet off the ground; he asked me to try my trim switch. We had just been passed off to Departure so I tried my trim switch and was unsuccessful getting it to work; and then I contacted Departure. They gave us a heading and climb to 5;000 feet. I set the altitude and heading; then the Captain and I gave a quick check of circuit breakers and he called for the QRH. About that time; we were issued climb instructions; so I told ATC we wanted to stay at 5;000 feet and work on a trim issue. We asked for vectors while we were troubleshooting the problem. Right away; my Captain asked for flaps 1 then flaps 5. He had disconnected the autothrottle and autopilot and was getting the aircraft trimmed out and easier to handle. We then started with the Stabilizer Out of Trim QRH. When we hit a point in the checklist that allowed; we contacted Dispatch and the Captain had Ops in ZZZ bring them up on the station frequency. It was determined that returning to ZZZ was our best option so the Captain communicated to the flight attendants and passengers letting them know our status. I ran numbers through the [weight and balance system] and non-normals. The QRH then took us through the Stab Trim Inop Checklist. We completed all items and told ZZZ we were ready to return. We were vectored for a long final so we could be configured and trimmed out well. Upon contacting Tower; I relayed that we wanted fire trucks available since we might have hot brakes. The landing was just like any other landing and we rolled to the end and taxied off. The trucks were there and checked our brakes and told us the temps were good. We ran the brake cooling in the [weight and balance system] and a 35 minute cool time came back. We taxied to the gate slowly where Maintenance was waiting for us. They also checked the brakes for us. Upon inspection; they found that the electric motor had failed; which was interesting since we set the trim for takeoff. My Captain did a great job of delegating and made it a non-event. We did [advise ATC] on this flight; and the one thing we noticed that later during vectors; ATC asked if we were [advising]. I was the Pilot Monitoring and thought that we had communicated that earlier in the flight. I should have made a clarification to make sure that they were aware.
We lost all electric trim sometime between setting the trim for takeoff during preflight and 500 feet AGL on climb out. After initial troubleshooting; we advised ATC and requested vectors instead of holding due to aircraft restraints; [we requested priority] and said we would get back to them after completing our checklists. After completing the appropriate checklists and coordinating with Dispatch and crew; we decided to return to ZZZ. When we informed ATC of our updated intentions; he queried us if we were [advising]. We again [advised ATC] and received vectors back to ZZZ; and landed uneventfully.At the time; I was surprised at the question about [advising]. On our initial contact; we requested special handling and stated we had a trim failure and were running checklists. That should have at least prompted ATC to inquire about [our] status; especially in such saturated airspace. We had our hands full with checklists and maintaining aircraft control with only manual trim.
B737 flight crew reported an elevator trim failure during climb out resulted in a return to the departure airport.