A MD80 tail compartment temp high light illuminated after takeoff so the crew completed the QRH; dec...

Narrative:

Shortly after takeoff (200-300 ft) AGL I noticed the tail compartment hot light illuminated. I pointed it out to the captain and he began the red box items. Dealing with the emergency procedures and anticipating an immediate return to the departure airport caused me to delay engagement of the autopilot and navigation. I asked the captain if he wanted me to declare an emergency. Initially he said that if the light went out within 2 minutes then no emergency would be necessary. The captain then pulled out the QRH and determined that we would need to return and to declare an emergency. In dealing with the emergency we had some discussion as to how long the light stayed on after the QRH items were accomplished (approximately four and one half minutes). In my mind this lead to a sense of urgency in getting the aircraft safely on the ground due to a possible bleed leak. I concurred with the captain's decision to declare an emergency and return. We made our intentions known with ATC and discussed the need for the captain to make the landing. We made a positive transfer of the controls and the captain made an outstanding overweight landing. We stopped the aircraft in front of airport rescue fire fighters and asked them to examine the aircraft tail for heat and or damage. We were given a verbal acknowledgment that the tail looked good and the ATC gave us a clearance to taxi to the gate. Airport rescue fire fighters followed us.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A MD80 Tail Compartment Temp High light illuminated after takeoff so the crew completed the QRH; declared an emergency; and the flight returned to the departure airport.

Narrative: Shortly after takeoff (200-300 FT) AGL I noticed the Tail Compartment Hot light illuminated. I pointed it out to the Captain and he began the Red Box items. Dealing with the emergency procedures and anticipating an immediate return to the departure airport caused me to delay engagement of the autopilot and NAV. I asked the Captain if he wanted me to declare an emergency. Initially he said that if the light went out within 2 minutes then no emergency would be necessary. The Captain then pulled out the QRH and determined that we would need to return and to declare an emergency. In dealing with the emergency we had some discussion as to how long the light stayed on after the QRH items were accomplished (approximately four and one half minutes). In my mind this lead to a sense of urgency in getting the aircraft safely on the ground due to a possible bleed leak. I concurred with the Captain's decision to declare an emergency and return. We made our intentions known with ATC and discussed the need for the Captain to make the landing. We made a positive transfer of the controls and the Captain made an outstanding overweight landing. We stopped the aircraft in front of Airport Rescue Fire Fighters and asked them to examine the aircraft tail for heat and or damage. We were given a verbal acknowledgment that the tail looked good and the ATC gave us a clearance to taxi to the gate. Airport Rescue Fire Fighters followed us.

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	954773
Time
Date	201106
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Tower
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	MD-83
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Initial 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

A MD80 tail compartment temp high light illuminated after takeoff so the crew completed the QRH; declared an emergency; and the flight returned to the departure airport.