Air carrier crew experiences a battery charger failure passing FL290 during climb and returns expedi...

Narrative:

During initial climbout passing approximately FL290 for FL330; 'battery charger' light illuminated. Checklist accomplished w/light remaining on and batteries discharging = land at nearest suitable airport. Declared emergency. ATC cleared left turn direct departure airport. Called dispatch; PA's made; emergency landing checklist accomplished. ATC cleared speed our discretion to burn fuel. Radar vectors to final approach. Captain's authority exercised to exceed 300 knots on arrival and exceed 250 knots below 10;000ft. Approach vectored to approximately 13 mile final. Visual approach with ILS backup for 129;800 lb landing; 40 [degrees of] flap. Taxied to gate; aircraft out of service for maintenance.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier crew experiences a battery charger failure passing FL290 during climb and returns expeditiously to the departure airport after declaring an emergency.

Narrative: During initial climbout passing approximately FL290 for FL330; 'Battery Charger' light illuminated. Checklist accomplished w/light remaining on and batteries discharging = land at nearest suitable airport. Declared emergency. ATC cleared left turn direct departure airport. Called Dispatch; PA's made; Emergency Landing checklist accomplished. ATC cleared speed our discretion to burn fuel. Radar Vectors to final approach. Captain's authority exercised to exceed 300 knots on arrival and exceed 250 knots below 10;000ft. Approach vectored to approximately 13 mile final. Visual approach with ILS backup for 129;800 lb landing; 40 [degrees of] flap. Taxied to gate; aircraft out of service for maintenance.

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	922233
Time
Date	201012
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-83
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	DC Battery
Person 1
Function	First Officer
Person 2
Function	Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Air carrier crew experiences a battery charger failure passing FL290 during climb and returns expeditiously to the departure airport after declaring an emergency.