Airliner 99
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine
Distraction; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Equipment Problem Dissipated; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft
On departure at about 300 ft. the left T-handle light illuminated. I immediately ran my memory items; checklist; set a timer; and continued my climb. I completed my climb checklist. At about 15 seconds; the light was still illuminated so I began preparing for an air return. At 20 seconds; it was still illuminated; this was at about 4500 ft. I informed departure that I needed an immediate return for a possible engine fire; [requested priority handling]. I was cleared for the Visual Approach; and switched to tower; and was cleared to land. I completed the rest of my checklists for landing; including single engine; because the left engine was still pulled to idle and ITT (Interstage Turbine Temperature) was stable. Landed without incident. As I pulled off the runway; the T-handle light extinguished.At about 300 ft. on my climb the t-handle was illuminated. Maintenance believes that the sensors/wiring had a malfunction. They were cleaned and returned to service. I ran my checklists. I stayed ahead of the plane by choosing to do them ahead of time; anticipating that the light might not go out. I communicated with ATC immediately; and decided the safest choice was to not be in the air should things continue to escalate.I don't really have control over this event happening again; however; you can always learn something to do differently or better. Now that I have an idea of what this type of event looks like; I would have also have done a precautionary engine shut down and had them send me on a downwind instead of a 180 into the runway I just departed.
C99 Captain reported false engine fire warning after takeoff.