My best friend was willing to go fly with me. Hurray. However, during pre-flight, the quick-slide push button for the vernier throttle stuck to my hand and then fell out onto the floor.
Glad it happened on the ground.
I had the same happen in the air...
I flew from home in TN to x35 (dunnellon, fl). It was ifr a good portion of the way. I refueled in dunnellon, refiled and took off ifr to fmy (page field in fort myers, fl). Fort myers approach advised me to expect the ils 5 approach.
About 20 miles out they advised the weather was too bad for the ils (it was solid ifr the whole trip) and said they didn't think I could get in on the ils. They said they would vector me around and try to get me in on a visual for runway 23. If I missed, they would vector me around for the ils.
About 10 miles out having been vectored in line with runway 23 they advised me to do a gps 23 approach. I did well to keep up with the last minute changes. As I got to mda on the gps approcah, I brought in a little throttle to arrest the descent and noticed the throttle seemed a little strange as if underpowered for the force I applied to the throttle.
I was still unable to see the field at 1.5 miles out at mda. I broke through a cloud and saw the field, but could not make a straight in landing. There was a cloud deck 50 feet above me and a black wall of clouds all the way to the ground at the far end of the runway. I requested a contact approach. The contact approach was approved. At this time I sensed something was wrong with the power. I then noticed I had a stuck throttle.
I could not advance or pull back the throttle at all. I had enough power to barely maintain altitude, but not climb. I advised tower; they requested I state my intentions. I requested to continue circling under the cloud deck where I could see the field as I attempted to sort out the problem. Tower issued vector away from the field into imc - I refused.
I fiddled with the throttle - twisting the throttle to attempt to get more or less power and managed to get partial control of the throttle. I advised tower as such and requested landing. I made a nice landing under idle power and upon touchdown, as I was flaring, the white plastic end of the throttle fell off in my hand.
I was advised by a local mechanic on field that the throttle I have is a vernier throttle and over time will vibrate lose. Note the screw in the center of the center push button on the throttle. Under the screw is the push button, a spring, a washer and a nut. If the nut vibrates loose it will migrate backwards until it interferes with the push buttons ability to be depressed. If the button cannot be depressed, the throttle cannot be adjusted. I was unaware of this. The local mechanic told me that many a&p's are unaware of this too, and that this nut under the push button needs to be tightened at each annual.
BTW I've learned over the years that most perceived passenger pressure is really self induced, like pilots tend to have a "can do" attitude that we must temper from time to time with reality.
