2023-08 · NASA ASRS report 2024879
B737 MAX 8 flight crew reported failure of stabilizer electric trim and autopilot. The crew returned to departure airport and landed uneventfully.
Approximately 100 East of ZZZZZ; while climbing through 35;000 ft. the Stab Out of Trim light illuminated; followed by autopilot disengagement. Troubleshooting the system; we noticed the electric trim was inoperative. We ran the Stabilizer Out of Trim Checklist in the QRH; followed by the Stabilizer Trim Inoperative Checklist. The autopilot would not re-engage; and the electric trim was inoperative. We flew and trimmed manually; descending to 34;000 ft. to gain better control due to the inoperative trim and excessive nose down pressure. After running the checklists; we contacted Dispatch; Maintenance Control; the Chief Pilot on Call and Operations to discuss options. We were able to get the B (First Officer's) side of the autopilot to operate again; but after consultation; and in the interest of safety; we elected to divert back to ZZZ; rather than continue. We descended down to 10;000 ft. to burn fuel to get under our max landing gross weight. We kept the Flight Attendants and Passengers informed as to our intentions and landed back in ZZZ uneventfully.
Approximately 100 east of ZZZZZ climbing through 35;000 ft. we got a Stab out of Trim light; followed by autopilot disengagement; and electric trim was inoperative. We ran the Stabilizer out of Trim Checklist in the QRH; followed by the Stabilizer Trim Inoperative Checklist. The autopilot would not re-engage; and the electric trim was inoperative. We flew and trimmed manually and descended to 34;000 ft. to gain better control due to the inoperative trim and excessive nose down pressure. After running the checklists; we contacted Dispatch; Maintenance Control; and Chief Pilot on Call [and] Operations to discuss options. We were able to get the B channel of the autopilot back; but after consultation and in the interest of risk mitigation; we decided to divert back to ZZZ rather than continue. We descended down to 10;000 ft. to burn fuel to get under our Max Landing Gross Weight. We kept the Flight Attendants and Passengers informed as to our intentions and landed back in ZZZ uneventfully.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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