A B737-300 flight crew has a problem with their nose down stabilizer trim and return land at den, co...

Attributes
ACN	595564
Time
Date	200310
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : den.airport
State Reference	CO
Altitude	msl single value : 23000
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdv.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : multi engine
ASRS Report	595564
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	aircraft : equipment problem dissipated flight crew : diverted to another airport other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Climb out passing approximately FL230, I noticed the stabilizer trim was unresponsive in the nose-down direction. I advised the captain, who tried her trim switches -- also unresponsive. While I continued to hand fly, we tried resetting the trim interrupt switches, and stabilizer cutout switch. These actions were ineffective. We elected to return to denver as the safest course of action. I continued to hand fly the aircraft and coordinate with ATC while the captain contacted dispatch. During her conversation with dispatch, maintenance control was also connected. They discussed all aspects of the situation, and she complied with their recommendations (checking a circuit breaker, and not using the autoplt). During the return to denver, the trim system began functioning again, and operation was normal throughout the remainder of the flight. All checklists were accomplished, I flew a visual approach, with ILS backup to runway 16L at denver without incident. After landing, we taxied to the gate and thoroughly debriefed maintenance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 FLT CREW HAS A PROB WITH THEIR NOSE DOWN STABILIZER TRIM AND RETURN LAND AT DEN, CO.

Narrative: CLBOUT PASSING APPROX FL230, I NOTICED THE STABILIZER TRIM WAS UNRESPONSIVE IN THE NOSE-DOWN DIRECTION. I ADVISED THE CAPT, WHO TRIED HER TRIM SWITCHES -- ALSO UNRESPONSIVE. WHILE I CONTINUED TO HAND FLY, WE TRIED RESETTING THE TRIM INTERRUPT SWITCHES, AND STABILIZER CUTOUT SWITCH. THESE ACTIONS WERE INEFFECTIVE. WE ELECTED TO RETURN TO DENVER AS THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION. I CONTINUED TO HAND FLY THE ACFT AND COORDINATE WITH ATC WHILE THE CAPT CONTACTED DISPATCH. DURING HER CONVERSATION WITH DISPATCH, MAINT CTL WAS ALSO CONNECTED. THEY DISCUSSED ALL ASPECTS OF THE SIT, AND SHE COMPLIED WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS (CHKING A CIRCUIT BREAKER, AND NOT USING THE AUTOPLT). DURING THE RETURN TO DENVER, THE TRIM SYS BEGAN FUNCTIONING AGAIN, AND OP WAS NORMAL THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE FLT. ALL CHKLISTS WERE ACCOMPLISHED, I FLEW A VISUAL APCH, WITH ILS BACKUP TO RWY 16L AT DENVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. AFTER LNDG, WE TAXIED TO THE GATE AND THOROUGHLY DEBRIEFED MAINT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.