Piper PA28 throttle cable became disconnected during dual training flight causing the engine RPM to remain at 2300 RPM. The instructor took over aircraft control, declared an emergency and landed at the nearest most suitable airport.

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Attributes
ACN	522219
Time
Date	200108
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ged.airport
State Reference	DE
Altitude	msl single value : 2500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer II/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 73 flight time total : 950 flight time type : 135
ASRS Report	522219
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : student
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : published procedure non adherence other
Independent Detector	aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : engine throttle ctl other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed in emergency condition flight crew : declared emergency
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : installation
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Problem arose during a student training flight. Throttle cable became disconnected from carburetor. Throttle was stuck open at 2300 RPM. Student was flying, I took the controls and returned to ged and circled the field. Emergency was declared with unicom. Decision was made to stay at ged and land on 5000 ft runway instead of going to dover AFB and land on longer runway because we didn't know what else would go wrong enroute. We extended full flaps and descended slowly (200 FPM). Student was briefed to put seat full back and tighten belts. At 500 AGL, all electrical turned off. Final approach made at 500 ft, when landing was assured I cut the mixture, which stopped the engine. Landing ok, no aircraft damage or passenger injuries. Later discovered bolt connecting throttle cable to carburetor butterfly valve disconnected. Engine was recently replaced --only about 10 hours on aircraft since overhaul. I suspect the bolt was not cotter pinned by mechanic.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PIPER PA28 THROTTLE CABLE BECAME DISCONNECTED DURING DUAL TRAINING FLT CAUSING THE ENGINE RPM TO REMAIN AT 2300 RPM. THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER ACFT CONTROL, DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED AT THE NEAREST MOST SUITABLE ARPT.

Narrative: PROBLEM AROSE DURING A STUDENT TRAINING FLT. THROTTLE CABLE BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM CARBURETOR. THROTTLE WAS STUCK OPEN AT 2300 RPM. STUDENT WAS FLYING, I TOOK THE CONTROLS AND RETURNED TO GED AND CIRCLED THE FIELD. EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED WITH UNICOM. DECISION WAS MADE TO STAY AT GED AND LAND ON 5000 FT RWY INSTEAD OF GOING TO DOVER AFB AND LAND ON LONGER RWY BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE WOULD GO WRONG ENROUTE. WE EXTENDED FULL FLAPS AND DESCENDED SLOWLY (200 FPM). STUDENT WAS BRIEFED TO PUT SEAT FULL BACK AND TIGHTEN BELTS. AT 500 AGL, ALL ELECTRICAL TURNED OFF. FINAL APCH MADE AT 500 FT, WHEN LANDING WAS ASSURED I CUT THE MIXTURE, WHICH STOPPED THE ENGINE. LANDING OK, NO ACFT DAMAGE OR PAX INJURIES. LATER DISCOVERED BOLT CONNECTING THROTTLE CABLE TO CARBURETOR BUTTERFLY VALVE DISCONNECTED. ENGINE WAS RECENTLY REPLACED --ONLY ABOUT 10 HOURS ON ACFT SINCE OVERHAUL. I SUSPECT THE BOLT WAS NOT COTTER PINNED BY MECHANIC.

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.