Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
On initial climb we received a triple chime; L WING OVHT warning message on EICAS and an aural Left Wing Overheat passing through 2;000 FT MSL. We were still VMC below the clouds but within icing conditions. We leveled at 3;000 FT MSL; declared an emergency; advised ATC of our situation and that we needed an immediate return. We had the airport and runway in sight and requested a descent to 2;500 FT MSL to ensure that we could maintain a visual. We continued visually; performed [the] Before Landing Checklist and a normal landing. The landing was overweight and an entry was made in the AML. After clearing the runway; we contacted the flight attendants and made a PA to the passengers advising them of the situation. We then returned to the gate; deplaned the passengers and met with Maintenance.
CRJ700 First Officer experiences a L WING OVHT warning EICAS message and an aural Left Wing Overheat passing through 2;000 feet MSL. An emergency is declared and the flight returns to the departure airport for an overweight landing.