EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Took off from runway 23R and continued runway heading. Around 2500 feet departure had us make a right turn. In the turn we got a FUEL IMBALANCE message. I looked down at the fuel and saw we were dropping fuel out of the right tank quickly. At that point I told the First Officer to look out the window and see if he could see any fuel off the wing. He replied saying the fuel is coming off the wing tip. At that point I told him to turn the autopilot on; and to turn the fuel pump off on that wing; cross feed open; and to were returning to the field. We stopped our climb at 5000 as ATC told us to return to 4000. I spoke to the flight attendant and the passengers to let them know we were returning to our departure airport where we landed safely. When we landed the fuel was showing 3000 in the left tank and 2400 in the right tank.
We landed without any further events other than we were overweight for landing. Upon returning to the gate maintenance performed several tests and said they could not duplicate the problem and they returned the aircraft to service.
An EMB-145 flight crew returned to their departure airport shortly after takeoff when they received a fuel imbalance message and observed a fuel stream exiting the right wingtip. Maintenance was unable to duplicate the problem and returned the aircraft to service.