B737 flight crew reported a failure of the yaw damper during the take off roll and a subsequent failure of the IRS. The crew completed a no gyro approach back to the departure airport for a precautionary landing.
Synopsis
B737 flight crew reported a failure of the yaw damper during the take off roll and a subsequent failure of the IRS. The crew completed a no gyro approach back to the departure airport for a precautionary landing.
Narrative
On takeoff from Runway XXL we got a Master Caution and the Captain said; 'Continue; Yaw Damper.' As we climbed; we turned to the vector assigned. I was the Pilot Flying. As I was in the turn; I lost the DG and the Map. We realized we lost our IRSs (Inertial Reference System). I rolled out at what I thought was close to the heading assigned (fortunately it was a VMC conditions and I still had airspeed and altitude). The Captain switched to Departure and we got another turn further to the south. At that point; as I began a left turn; the Captain told Departure that we were having a Directional Gyro problem and that we needed to trouble shoot the problem. He did not request priority handling as he thought we could remedy the problem. After going through the QRH we realized we were not going to be able to fix the problem. The sun was setting and we needed to turn back to the field ASAP before dark. We started getting no gyro turns toward the field. At that point; the Captain took over flying and I set us up for approach to XXL. I got the ZZZ information and we went through the descent approach checklists. I also sent a message to Dispatch. We got the airport in sight and we were cleared for the visual. The landing was overweight but uneventful. On landing; we rolled to the end; in order to not overheat the brakes. We pulled of the runway and stopped so I could run the brake cooling ACARS program. ACARS said no action was required; so we continued the taxi back to the Gate.
Second reporter narrative
On takeoff from Runway XXL in ZZZ; Master Caution came on showing Yaw Damper OFF. Continued with safe takeoff and on climb out; after clean up saw that the DG had failed and IRS had failed. We leveled off; let ATC know of the problems and got a heading to go to QRC; after that it was decided that the safe course of action would be to land before dark on a visual approach to Runway XXL which we did. Ran all checklists and numbers notified Dispatch; Flight Attendants and Passengers and ATC and landed overweight; smooth touchdown and no brakes until under 100 knots. Did brake cooling then returned to Gate.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.