Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Troubleshooting; Distraction; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Procedure; Weather
During the takeoff roll; we received a caution message and the 'STAB TRIM' caution message. As we were above 80 KTS; and the above did not involve engine fire/failure; loss of directional control; or the aircraft's inability to fly; we continued the takeoff. The initial climb out proceeded normally; with the aircraft handling satisfactorily. I attempted to reset the stab trim with the switches; but to no avail. The First Officer (F/O) and I both tried our trip disconnect switches and made sure that the trim switches themselves were centered; still the stab trim would not engage. After running the QRH; the stab trim would still not engage. I called Maintenance (MTX) over the radio and advised them of the situation and was hoping they had some trick up their sleeves to make the trim engage...still to no avail. I then [advised] Center and requested a return to the departure airport. I called the Flight Attendant and advised her of the situation and gave her the TEST items. I also spoke to the passengers and advised them of what was wrong and of our intention to return. We completed the 'prior to landing' part of the QRH and executed a flap 20 landing on rwy 18C. After we taxied in; we off loaded the passengers and I spoke to Maintenance Control and to the Dispatch Supervisor; giving them the information they needed about our flight. We then swapped into another aircraft and continued on to our destination.In speaking to MTX on the telephone after we landed; they seemed to think; based on the diagnostic codes in the computer; that there was a short in the Stab Trim panel on the center console. In speaking to the mechanics who came out to repair the aircraft; they thought this was possible as dirt/debris/water/etc. from shoes drips onto and into the center console when people get in and out of the seats on the flight deck.
A CRJ-200 EICAS alerted STAB TRIM during takeoff but the crew continued. In flight; the Stabilizer Trim was found failed and would not reset so the flight returned to the departure airport for maintenance.