Narrative:

The flight was an originator with a mechanical delay. The writeup was for the stab trim out of trim light the previous night. We departed forty-four minutes late with the logbook sign-off indicating the problem was fixed. Approximately one hour from [destination] at FL400; the stab trim out of trim light illuminated.the QRH was called for and run as follows: control column---------hold firmly autopilot--------------disengage stabilizer trim---------as required we are instructed that if the stabilizer fails to respond to the electric trim inputs; accomplish the stabilizer trim inoperative checklist; which is basically declaring an emergency; and perform a flaps 15 landing. Before that was going to take place; I wanted to check the circuit breaker for stab trim. It was popped and was reset. The electric trim was back and working. At this time with the electric trim working; the stabilizer out of trim checklist was complete. The cockpit duties were starting to get very busy with starting a descent; ATIS; gate; approach control and hand-flying. The first officer did an outstanding job with all duties while I was hand-flying the descent. I decided to try the autopilot again and it worked for about one minute. Then we ended up with the same situation as before with the stab trim out of trim light. The autopilot was off (no trim) so I asked the first officer if he was comfortable with resetting the circuit breakers again and continuing on. I felt that the autopilot was the cause for the stab trim problem and if I could get the electric trim back and hand-fly the aircraft there was no need the declare an emergency and do a flaps 15 landing.I exercised captain's emergency authority and had the circuit breaker reset for a second time. The electric trim was regained and aircraft was hand-flown with all step-down altitudes on the STAR complied with. There were no problems with trim and a normal flaps 30 landing was accomplished. The writeup in the logbook was accomplished. I probably gave too much detail to the event; but I wanted maintenance to know what was done to help them with their continuing stab trim problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-700 flight crew reported a problem with the stabilizer trim when the autopilot was engaged. They disengaged the autopilot and hand flew the arrival and landing with no difficulties.

Narrative: The flight was an originator with a mechanical delay. The writeup was for the Stab Trim out of Trim light the previous night. We departed forty-four minutes late with the logbook sign-off indicating the problem was fixed. Approximately one hour from [destination] at FL400; the Stab Trim out of Trim light illuminated.The QRH was called for and run as follows: Control Column---------Hold Firmly Autopilot--------------Disengage Stabilizer Trim---------As Required We are instructed that if the stabilizer fails to respond to the electric trim inputs; accomplish the Stabilizer Trim Inoperative Checklist; which is basically declaring an emergency; and perform a flaps 15 landing. Before that was going to take place; I wanted to check the Circuit Breaker for Stab Trim. It was popped and was reset. The electric trim was back and working. At this time with the electric trim working; the Stabilizer out of Trim Checklist was complete. The cockpit duties were starting to get very busy with starting a descent; ATIS; gate; Approach Control and hand-flying. The First Officer did an outstanding job with all duties while I was hand-flying the descent. I decided to try the autopilot again and it worked for about one minute. Then we ended up with the same situation as before with the Stab Trim Out of Trim light. The autopilot was off (no trim) so I asked the First Officer if he was comfortable with resetting the circuit breakers again and continuing on. I felt that the autopilot was the cause for the stab trim problem and if I could get the electric trim back and hand-fly the aircraft there was no need the declare an emergency and do a flaps 15 landing.I exercised Captain's emergency authority and had the circuit breaker reset for a second time. The electric trim was regained and aircraft was hand-flown with all step-down altitudes on the STAR complied with. There were no problems with trim and a normal flaps 30 landing was accomplished. The writeup in the logbook was accomplished. I probably gave too much detail to the event; but I wanted Maintenance to know what was done to help them with their continuing stab trim problem.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.