Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
[Aircraft] had...a note in the MEL which stated: 'When the deactivation procedure is completed; the L(R) REV UNSAFE caution Message or L(R) REV UNLOCKED caution message may show continuously or intermittently on the EICAS primary page and the REV amber icon may show inside the N1 gauge.' As soon as we got weight off the wheels L REV UNLOCKED caution message; the REV Icon and the caution single chime appeared. These messages and associated chimes would appear; go away and re-appear every 2-5 seconds. We were flying [to] a Special Airport at night. I felt that this distraction would adversely affect the safety of the flight. I contacted our Dispatcher and choose to return to the airport. During the descent; the First Officer informed me that we needed to land with about 5;500 LBS of fuel to be at maximum landing weight. I calculated that we would be 300 to 400 LBS overweight on landing. Based on information I had received in the past; the company preferred us to land overweight rather than circle for an extended period of time to burn off fuel. Just write it up as an overweight landing and Maintenance would do an inspection and it was not a big deal. Based on this; I choose to land overweight. After we had taxied to the gate and spoke to the Chief Pilot; I began to question this decision. The company really does not have the authority to tell us to violate a limitation. We had not declared an emergency and could have put up with the distraction for a little while longer to burn off some fuel. In this situation I really had three options: 1. Continue to destination; which I feel would have been unsafe. 2. Circle; burn off fuel and land below max landing weight. 3. Declare an emergency and land overweight.
CRJ-200 flight crew returned to departure airport due to recurring Thrust Reverser caution messages. Captain elected to land overweight in accordance with company policy; but later questioned this decision.