MD-83
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Engineer
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 215; Flight Crew Total 15512; Flight Crew Type 9852
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
At top of climb we began to experience navigation failure of both Captain & First Officer primary heading displays. This led to the autopilot disconnecting. Also; we experienced dual map failures on both navigation displays. This resulted in navigating with the standby compass as our only source of aircraft heading. We completed the checklist items for the given situation. The failures were not corrected.We reversed course and asked ATC for a heading back to departure airport. With no navigation displays; no autopilot available; and drifting heading displays we [advised ATC]. No other events to report. We were able to fly ATC assigned headings and get a visual approach for landing.We recorded issues in the aircraft logbook and ended our flight day.
On initial departure; I experienced a Map Fail on my ND (Navigational Display). It reset itself and did not create an issue. We did not feel that this was unusual and continued. Prior to the level off at cruise altitude; this happened again. The order of failure was first an amber 'Heading' on the comparator; a couple of seconds later a 'Map Fail' on the ND and simultaneously Autopilot disconnect and Flight Director failure. This time we reset our RMI headings to the compass. Once the headings were reset; everything came back.After level at cruise altitude; the failure occurred several more times. In between resetting the RMI headings; autopilot; and FD for each occurrence; the captain ran the 'ATTITUDE / HEADING FAIL' checklist which did not resolve the issue. At first; we thought that only one heading was wandering; however it became clear that both headings were wandering.We requested the return to [departure airport] with ATC and notified dispatch that we were returning. The Heading failures on return seemed to be constant. Each reset seemed to last only about 3 minutes. The Captain had assumed the controls and he was not able to use the autopilot on the return; hand flying only.
MD83 flight crew reported returning to departure airport following the loss of both primary heading displays at top of climb.