Aircraft equipment problem. Frozen throttle due to improper maintenance.

Attributes
ACN	303554
Time
Date	199505
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : buf airport : zob
State Reference	NY
Altitude	msl bound lower : 37000 msl bound upper : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Commercial Fixed Wing
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	Other
Flight Phase	cruise other descent : approach landing other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 2500
ASRS Report	303554
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

#2 engine throttle was stuck at 92 percent. Talked to ZNY and advised the need to shut engine down prior to landing. Informed approach and tower of situation, asked for trucks (fire) to be standing by. Shut engine #2 down on short final and made uneventful landing. Suspect frozen water in cables. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: postflt inspection of throttle cables revealed that the cables had grease on them and the takeoff in heavy rain caused moisture to collect on the greased cables. At the high altitude, cold temperature, the moisture froze rendering the throttle unmoveable. Even after remaining at a lower altitude, 10000 ft, for 20 mins, it still would not retard so on final approach was shut down. Finally, at the blocks, the flight crew was able to reduce the throttle. The aircraft was grounded and all cables were changed. The grease on the cables was apparently maintenance error.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT EQUIP PROB. FROZEN THROTTLE DUE TO IMPROPER MAINT.

Narrative: #2 ENG THROTTLE WAS STUCK AT 92 PERCENT. TALKED TO ZNY AND ADVISED THE NEED TO SHUT ENG DOWN PRIOR TO LNDG. INFORMED APCH AND TWR OF SIT, ASKED FOR TRUCKS (FIRE) TO BE STANDING BY. SHUT ENG #2 DOWN ON SHORT FINAL AND MADE UNEVENTFUL LNDG. SUSPECT FROZEN WATER IN CABLES. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: POSTFLT INSPECTION OF THROTTLE CABLES REVEALED THAT THE CABLES HAD GREASE ON THEM AND THE TKOF IN HVY RAIN CAUSED MOISTURE TO COLLECT ON THE GREASED CABLES. AT THE HIGH ALT, COLD TEMP, THE MOISTURE FROZE RENDERING THE THROTTLE UNMOVEABLE. EVEN AFTER REMAINING AT A LOWER ALT, 10000 FT, FOR 20 MINS, IT STILL WOULD NOT RETARD SO ON FINAL APCH WAS SHUT DOWN. FINALLY, AT THE BLOCKS, THE FLC WAS ABLE TO REDUCE THE THROTTLE. THE ACFT WAS GNDED AND ALL CABLES WERE CHANGED. THE GREASE ON THE CABLES WAS APPARENTLY MAINT ERROR.

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.