B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 8200; Flight Crew Type 400
Human-Machine Interface; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors
I was the pilot flying and we commenced a takeoff. Upon rotation I noticed a failure of flight instruments (HSI and RMI) along with the stick shaker warning. Immediately I said to my copilot that I have no flight instruments and that I was flying by Standby gyro and compass. We told ATC that we needed to return for landing due to flight instrument issues. We took into effect that we were going to make an overweight landing (approximately 3;000-4;000 pounds) and commenced a short base to final for a visual approach. Upon landing we parked at a holding pad and contacted Dispatch and Maintenance; at that point we realized that the IRS's were in the off position. After we initiated a full alignment; we contacted Dispatch and Maintenance Control to appraise them of the situation. We completed a full alignment and that seemed to alleviate all the flight instrument issues. Once the flight instruments seemed to be corrected; we taxied back to the FBO to make logbook entries and allow the flight mechanic to do an overweight landing inspection without a hard landing. We were in constant contact with Dispatch and once the necessary inspection and paperwork were complete; we continued the scheduled flights per Dispatch.
B737-400 Captain experienced failure of his HSI and RMI upon rotation. The flight returned to the departure airport for an overweight landing; where it is discovered that the IRSs were never aligned prior to takeoff.