Date: 201402
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.TRACON, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Dawn
Aircraft: Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Takeoff / Launch
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Aircraft component: Horizontal Stabilizer Trim
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Automation Aircraft Other Automation; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Procedure
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: On climbout at approximately 800 feet AGL the STAB TRIM; MACH TRIM caution messages illuminated.  Assuming it was pilot error and that I may have hit the DISC switch I asked the pilot not flying to re-engage the STAB/MACH trim.  It stayed engaged until the flaps came up on the After Takeoff Checklist.  We completed the QRH and the trim reengaged and the autopilot (AP) was engaged.  Soon there after we received the caution messages again followed by the AP NU/ND and E trim caution messages and associated indications.  We continued with QRH and I disengaged the AP and began to hand fly the aircraft.  The nose was really heavy and we decided the best option was to return because it was right behind us and I was seriously concerned about a possible trim runaway.  It gets pretty fuzzy from here.  I can't remember when the pitch failed again. I do know that we were configured Flaps 45 and completed all the checklists; briefs through the decision altitude (DA); landing data; Flight Attendant/passengers notified and such.  The landing was difficult holding the out of trim aircraft but still smooth.  I didn't declare an emergency because I honestly never got that far in my head.  I was focused on flying the aircraft.  Gate return was pretty normal from there and we contacted the Dispatcher as soon as we got back to the gate.  Total flight was 16 minutes.  The deviation occurred because of the pilot induced pitching moment on the aircraft and getting used to the heavy nose. The course deviation was approximately the same time.  I miss understood the controller and honestly I'm not even sure what he said as of right now.  I thought he said; join a 10 mile final for the visual but I think he said expect a 10 mile final.  It's pretty blurry in my memory.  It all happened way faster than I thought it would. Crew communication was actually pretty good.  I did get task saturated hand flying a tricky aircraft; running the radios and trying to listen to the pilot not flying completing the checklist.  Also; we did not have time to contact Maintenance Control and the Dispatcher.  I was more interested in getting the aircraft back on the ground because of the difficulty controlling the pitch.  It definitely crossed my mind when the pilot not flying was getting data from the ACARS but I felt it was better to call them on the ground.  Maintenance Control needs to have Contract Maintenance do something more than system reset; ops check good; when something fails more that once the night before.  The First Officer and I both were thinking the system was going to fail again from past experience of previously mentioned resets.  We just expected it to occur when we got to destination during flap extension and not immediately after takeoff.  Also; the particular checklist for STAB TRIM/MACH TRIM fail doesn't say land at nearest suitable just says prior to landing; however you should really consider it.  It is a pretty uncomfortable event flying an aircraft with no pitch trim.


Second narrative: On takeoff/liftoff we received Stab trim/Mach trim caution messages. Climbed to safe alt; coordinated altitudes with Approach and declared emergency with return to ZZZ due to potential flight control failure. Ran QRH procedures and worked with ATC to safely land back at the departure airport. Landed safely and flight eventually cancelled. High workload environment; Emergency; ATC instructions; cycled in behind small GA aircraft to which we never saw; small white aircraft on white snow covered environment.  Ran QRH procedures and dealt with everything in an orderly/concise matter.


Synopsis: CRJ-200 flight crew experiences a jammed stabilizer on takeoff; indicated by STAB TRIM/MACH TRIM caution messages; and elects to return to the departure airport. The crew had written the aircraft up the previous evening for STAB TRIM/MACH TRIM caution messages; which were signed off by Maintenance as ops check OK.