B737 pilot reported electric trim failure inflight. Flight crew returned to departure airport.
Synopsis
B737 pilot reported electric trim failure inflight. Flight crew returned to departure airport.
Narrative
During initial climb out of ZZZ Captain in training stated his electric trim was not working. I took the aircraft and attempted to use the trim and found it inop on my side as well. We leveled at 4000 ft and organized our thoughts and duty's as to how we would continue. We collaborated and determined I would run the abnormal checklist and he would fly and communicate with ATC. After running the checklist we were unable to restore the system so I decided to [request priority handling] to return to ZZZ. I also viewed this as an opportunity for the Captain in training. I took the aircraft and radios while he gave the flight attendants a briefing; communicate with dispatch and inform the passengers of our return to ZZZ. ATC was notified of our issue and gave us vectors to the visual approach to runway XX. A flaps 15 landing was accomplished. During the debrief we found it strange that dispatch responded to our ACARS message of our air return. I subsequently called the dispatcher and he stated he never received our message. I don't have an explanation for that.
Second reporter narrative
Narrative description of electric and autopilot trim failure after takeoff from ZZZ. The subject flight was from ZZZ to ZZZZ; the aircraft was a B737-700.The flight was a regularly scheduled departure from ZZZ to ZZZZ. Preflight; pushback; taxi; and takeoff from ZZZ were normal. Soon after takeoff; as the flying pilot; I noticed the electric trim was not working while trying to activate it. We leveled off and I continued to manually fly the airplane. We attempted to engage the autopilot to determine whether the autopilot trim would work. It did not. The Captain completed the Trim Inoperative QRH; [advised ATC] and informed ATC that we would need to return to ZZZ. We set up for landing in ZZZ per the QRH and SOPs. Subsequent approach; landing; and taxi-in were uneventful.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.