EMB-170 flight crew reported during climb they got an EICAS annunciation for a slat fail. They ran the QRH checklist and decided to return to departure airport.
Synopsis
EMB-170 flight crew reported during climb they got an EICAS annunciation for a slat fail. They ran the QRH checklist and decided to return to departure airport.
Narrative
Everything was quite slow in ZZZ this morning due to a snowstorm that had occurred overnight. We closed up; pushed back for deice; and had snow and ice removed from the aircraft. Once the aircraft was deemed clear of contaminants; we pushed back for departure and taxied onward towards runway XX. The taxi out and takeoff were normal. Our issue began when our standard callout 'flaps up; after takeoff checklist' came from me; the PF. The FO selected the flaps up; and the slats failed retracting from position 1 to 0. Around this time we were cleared to 9000'. ZZZ [TRACON] cleared us to a higher altitude; but with the abnormal condition presenting itself; I decided to tell the controller we would like to remain at 9000' to diagnose a message that had popped up. Around this time I transferred the controls to my FO; and proceeded to run the slat fail QRH. The QRH did not clear the message. The slat fail message persisted when we again tried to select flaps 0. lt then became apparent to me that it would be a very long flight continuing to ZZZ1 with the flaps in a potentially partially deployed configuration. As such I messaged dispatch that a return to ZZZ made sense. After some back and forth about the nature of the issue; Dispatch agreed with our decision; and additionally informed us that we should aim to touch down less than 330fpm. Because we were an overweight landing by over 6000lbs; I decided to request priority handling; and passed the information about the nature of the issue as well as the fuel remaining and souls on board to ATC. The information was also passed along to the flight attendants and passengers that we were to return to ZZZ. We continued with the QRH; setup for the ILSXYR into ZZZ; and continued inbound. We landed flaps full and touched down somewhere in the 100-200fpm range. We rolled out quite far; being cautious of brake usage; and taxied back in to gate XX.
Second reporter narrative
After deicing at gate XX in ZZZ; we taxied to runway XX for a planned flaps 4 departure. After being cleared for takeoff we departed on the ZZZZZ departure and started climbing. During the climb; when retracting the flaps from the 1 position to the up position. The EICAS annunciated a 'SLAT FAIL' message. The slats appeared to be stuck between the 1 and up position on the EICAS. We then asked ATC to level off at 9000 so we could run our checklist. After the issue persisted; we communicated to dispatch; ATC;and the flight attendants and decided to return to ZZZ. Due to the factors present; as well as the aircraft being overweight for landing; we decided to request priority handling. After completing the required checklists; we were vectored for the ILS XYR and landed within 330 FPM as directed by dispatch. The landing was estimated to be around 100 fpm and did not feel hard or firm. We returned to the gate and communicated with company.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.