Dash 8 Series Undifferentiated or Other Model
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Shortly after takeoff after we retracted the flaps (about 1;000 AGL); the ROLL SPLR INBD HYD caution light illuminated. We completed the After Takeoff Checklist and appropriate emergency checklist then called Maintenance on the Satellite phone. We elected to return to the field; and as a precaution declared an emergency. The remainder of the flight was completed without incident and we landed and returned to the gate. We decided to declare an emergency thinking that the roll spoilers were considered a flight control device and a NTSB reportable event if they malfunctioned. After calling Maintenance on the ground when we returned to the gate; we were informed that the roll spoilers are considered flight control assisting devices and thus not required to be reported to the NTSB. Had we known this; we would not have decided to declare and emergency.
DHC8 First Officer reports a ROLL SPLR INBD HYD caution light illuminated just after flap retraction during initial climb. An emergency is declared and flight returns to departure airport.