A MD80's tail compartment temp high light illuminated after takeoff. The QRH procedure was completed...

Narrative:

Outside air temperature [was] 38 degrees C; cabin temperature [was] over 30 degrees C. Aborted ground start due to low air on APU. Right engine over temp on start. Maintenance used start cart to successfully start both engines at gate. Following normal taxi; takeoff; just after slat retract; master warning 'tail compartment temp high' light. [We] complied with checklist and memory items. Captain declared emergency as per new checklist and we returned to gate. Note: master warning light went out immediately after memory items were completed. [We had an] uneventful landing on the runway. After airport rescue and fire fighting inspection; returned to gate. Comment that the single frequency approach was very cluttered with extraneous chatter between airport rescue and fire fighting and tower. This could be a factor in a more serious emergency.suggest airport rescue and fire fighting and tower refine their communication procedures for single frequency approach. Second radio or cell phone seems the best solution. The new checklist does not allow the captain to continue flight upon resolution of the flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MD80's Tail Compartment Temp High light illuminated after takeoff. The QRH procedure was completed; an emergency declared and the aircraft returned to land. The Captain found the QRH procedure poorly written and difficult to complete.

Narrative: Outside air temperature [was] 38 degrees C; cabin temperature [was] over 30 degrees C. Aborted ground start due to low air on APU. Right engine over temp on start. Maintenance used start cart to successfully start both engines at gate. Following normal taxi; takeoff; just after slat retract; Master Warning 'Tail Compartment Temp High' light. [We] complied with checklist and memory items. Captain declared emergency as per new checklist and we returned to gate. Note: Master Warning light went out immediately after memory items were completed. [We had an] uneventful landing on the runway. After Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting inspection; returned to gate. Comment that the single frequency approach was very cluttered with extraneous chatter between Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting and Tower. This could be a factor in a more serious emergency.Suggest Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting and Tower refine their communication procedures for single frequency approach. Second radio or cell phone seems the best solution. The new checklist does not allow the Captain to continue flight upon resolution of the flight.

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	905469
Time
Date	201008
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Engine Air Pneumatic Ducting
Person 1
Function	First Officer Pilot Flying
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

A MD80's tail compartment temp high light illuminated after takeoff. The QRH procedure was completed; an emergency declared and the aircraft returned to land. The captain found the QRH procedure poorly written and difficult to complete.