Aircraft pitches nose-up after takeoff (Dash8 and B1900) and needs constant trim

Re: Aircraft pitches nose-up after takeoff (Dash8 and B1900) and needs constant trim

Tom,

A steady “wants to climb” right after takeoff is usually one of three things: *trim not being where you think it is*, *an axis/button constantly re-trimming*, or simply *too much power/speed with takeoff trim still set* (especially on props).

Here’s how I’d tackle it step-by-step.

1) Make sure it’s not a trim axis fighting you
A very common cause is a trim wheel/slider/axis (or even a second controller) that’s slightly off-center. The sim will keep feeding in trim, so you trim nose-down… and it slowly creeps back.

1. Temporarily unplug any extra controllers (gamepad, joystick, throttle quadrant, trim wheel) so you’re down to just yoke + throttles.
2. In your sim’s control settings, look specifically for anything assigned to elevator trim axis (or “pitch trim”) and clear it for testing.
3. Also check for duplicate assignments (yoke AND keyboard AND joystick all controlling trim).

If the problem disappears after removing/clearing a trim axis, you’ve found the culprit.

2) Check if your trim is being commanded by something else
Even without a trim axis, a stuck trim button/hat switch can “tap” trim repeatedly.

1. Open whatever controller utility you use (if any) and watch for trim button activity.
2. In-sim, try assigning trim to different keys temporarily (or clearing trim buttons) and see if the behavior changes.

3) Confirm you’re not just flying away from the takeoff trim condition
On the Dash 8 / B1900, takeoff trim is only meant to get you safely airborne at takeoff power and rotation speed. Once you accelerate and then pull power back, the pitch forces will change.

A couple practical technique checks:

1. After liftoff, pitch for a sensible climb attitude and let the aircraft accelerate a bit.
2. As you accelerate, you’ll normally need a small trim change. That part is normal.
3. When you reduce power after takeoff, do it smoothly—big, fast power reductions can cause a noticeable pitch change.

That said, what you’re describing (“keeps going back up” and you’re constantly pushing) still smells more like trim input being continuously applied.

4) Quick test to prove it’s trim creep
On the runway (before takeoff), don’t touch anything:

1. Center the yoke.
2. Set trim to neutral (or the takeoff mark).
3. Now watch the trim indicator for 20–30 seconds.

If it slowly moves on its own, you’ve definitely got a control assignment/noise issue.

A few quick questions so I can narrow it down

• Which sim is this in (FSX, P3D, X-Plane, MSFS) and which version?
• What hardware are you using (yoke/throttle setup, pedals, any trim wheel)?
• Do you have any add-ons that might be doing auto-trim or “assistance” (and does it happen with a default aircraft too)?
• Does the elevator trim indicator actually move by itself when you see the nose come up?

Answer those and I can tell you exactly where to look next.