Emergency declared by tower as small aircraft performs a return land due to a frozen throttle.

Attributes
ACN	301974
Time
Date	199504
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : mmu
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2000 msl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : mmu
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude landing other other
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 6 flight time total : 3300 flight time type : 600
ASRS Report	301974
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Takeoff was normal and first power reduction went smoothly. Temperature on ground was 35 degree F, at second power reduction, throttle would not move in any direction. Tower was notified and returned for landing. At 400 ft, throttle unfroze. Tower had declared emergency and called emergency equipment. Normal landing accomplished. Prior to flight, previous day, engine compartment had been cleaned with biodegradable cleaner (permatex) which had a water base. Evidently water entered cable housing and froze at altitude. A warning against water-based cleaners should be issued to all airplane owners cleaning engine areas. After cleaning and re- lubricating throttle cable, it functioned normally on 26 hour flight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: EMER DECLARED BY TWR AS SMA PERFORMS A RETURN LAND DUE TO A FROZEN THROTTLE.

Narrative: TKOF WAS NORMAL AND FIRST PWR REDUCTION WENT SMOOTHLY. TEMP ON GND WAS 35 DEG F, AT SECOND PWR REDUCTION, THROTTLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION. TWR WAS NOTIFIED AND RETURNED FOR LNDG. AT 400 FT, THROTTLE UNFROZE. TWR HAD DECLARED EMER AND CALLED EMER EQUIP. NORMAL LNDG ACCOMPLISHED. PRIOR TO FLT, PREVIOUS DAY, ENG COMPARTMENT HAD BEEN CLEANED WITH BIODEGRADABLE CLEANER (PERMATEX) WHICH HAD A WATER BASE. EVIDENTLY WATER ENTERED CABLE HOUSING AND FROZE AT ALT. A WARNING AGAINST WATER-BASED CLEANERS SHOULD BE ISSUED TO ALL AIRPLANE OWNERS CLEANING ENG AREAS. AFTER CLEANING AND RE- LUBRICATING THROTTLE CABLE, IT FUNCTIONED NORMALLY ON 26 HR FLT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.