Date: 201409
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: Thunderstorm
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class A ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Center ZZZ; TRACON ZZZ
Aircraft component: Ground Spoiler
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting; Workload; Time Pressure
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Detector: Automation Aircraft Other Automation; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Diverted; General Declared Emergency; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Procedure; Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Approximately 45 minutes into our 1:20 minute flight an EICAS resulted in a diversion due to a maintenance related to a Spoiler Failure / Open Indication.  No aerodynamic situation was felt and was visual verified by Flight Attendant and then First Officer (just to be certain).Ran appropriate QRH for Uncommanded Spoiler Deployment / Failure; handle was not touched it was in the 'stowed' position since we are in a climb to FL310.  Upon the indication and subsequent failure we asked ATC for a level off at present altitude he approved we leveled off at FL233 for a short while. Shortly after corrected for property direction of flight to FL240.  Communicated with Dispatcher of intentions and he made appropriate changes for the diversion arrival.  Center handed us off to area Approach Controller as we started down into the divert airport.  We were then handed off to Approach.  We confirmed our souls and fuel; proceeded to get numbers for Runway XXR ILS with modifier as per QRH.As a result of the sequence of events and concerned for the possibility for a deployment of the spoilers I opted to land slightly overweight around 440lbs.  Pilot flying landed aircraft very smoothly.  Delays; duty time factors; and the feeling of being rushed. I would suggest as a result of the sequence of events everyone did well to mitigate any other issues associated with the flight.  It was a major learning experience for me since it was really the first true emergency since having upgraded recently.  It puts into perspective the necessity to weigh all options including using all tools at your disposal.  The First Officer and Flight Attendant were a great help.  It was stated during operational experience [training] and throughout training that your greatest assets while dealing with critical moments are usually behind you in the cabin and the guy/gal sitting next to you.  Based on things at the time; I don't think I would have done anything differently. The potential to rush could lead to other possible UAS's; that being said I have to consciously remember to run all checklists / QRH directives at a slower pace to not skip items / make sure what is being done is correct and logical at the same time.




Synopsis: An EMB-145 EICAS alerted SPOILER FAILURE/OPEN. The flight crew ran the QRH and the flight diverted to a nearby airport for maintenance.