An emb-145 returned to land after takeoff because the elevator control response on takeoff required ...

Narrative:

I executed a normal rotation for takeoff. As I continued to apply back-pressure to rotate into the command bars the elevator did not respond. I increased back-pressure; the control column moved back; but the elevator did not respond in kind. Approximately 100 ft AGL. Finally; the airplane 'jerked' nose-high. I released back-pressure to lower the angle of attack; it did not respond until it 'jerked' again. Controls became 'slushy' for the climb. By 500 ft AGL I was concerned about the elevator and made the decision to declare an emergency and return to the field. As we set up for the emergency landing; we briefed the flight attendant; completed the after landing checklist; in range checklist; and overweight landing checklist. We returned to the field. During the cruise and descent; the elevator functioned normally so we opted to do a precautionary landing rather than have the passengers brace. I opted to use as much nose up trim as I could to avoid reliance on the elevator for pitch control. We touched down uneventfully at less than 200 FPM descent.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An EMB-145 returned to land after takeoff because the elevator control response on takeoff required a very large input to attain a takeoff attitude. An emergency was declared.

Narrative: I executed a normal rotation for takeoff. As I continued to apply back-pressure to rotate into the command bars the elevator did not respond. I increased back-pressure; the control column moved back; but the elevator did not respond in kind. Approximately 100 FT AGL. Finally; the airplane 'jerked' nose-high. I released back-pressure to lower the angle of attack; it did not respond until it 'jerked' again. Controls became 'slushy' for the climb. By 500 FT AGL I was concerned about the elevator and made the decision to declare an emergency and return to the field. As we set up for the emergency landing; we briefed the Flight Attendant; completed the after landing checklist; in range checklist; and overweight landing checklist. We returned to the field. During the cruise and descent; the elevator functioned normally so we opted to do a precautionary landing rather than have the passengers brace. I opted to use as much nose up trim as I could to avoid reliance on the elevator for pitch control. We touched down uneventfully at less than 200 FPM descent.

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.

Attributes
ACN	845178
Time
Date	200907
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 145 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Elevator
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural FAR Deviation - Procedural Maintenance

An emb-145 returned to land after takeoff because the elevator control response on takeoff required a very large input to attain a takeoff attitude. An emergency was declared.