Get Down, Slow Down

I am an active pilot with Pilots 'N Paws, and was returning home to Wilkes-Barre, Penn., in my Piper Lance filled with dogs bound for their foster homes. The flight was progressing normally until we started picking up some trace icing at 7000 feet, so we elected to climb to 11,000 to find clear air and shed any ice. Without a turbocharger, I was not surprised to see the manifold pressure resting at 21 inches at 11,000 feet. But as I leveled off at 5000 approaching home plate, manifold pressure remained at 21 inches instead of returning to the 24 inches expected.

Key Takeaways:

• A pilot experienced engine power issues (low manifold pressure, reduced airspeed) which escalated to a throttle cable failure, leaving the engine stuck at cruise power.
• The pilot successfully landed the aircraft by recalling a technique learned from previous reading: using the mixture control to manage engine power when the throttle cable fails.
• The incident highlights the critical importance of investigating aircraft irregularities, maintaining altitude during emergencies, and learning from other pilots' experiences to enhance recall during high-stress situations.

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