So I took my Mooney off from burlington, vt today.....noticed that after taking off the throttle cable seemed to be pushing back at me. So I pushed it in and locked the friction lock, not quite sure what was going on but it was my first inkling that I was having a problem....

As I get up to cruise at 4500 i try to take some power back, but I pull the cable about all the was and only loose 3-4" of manifold pressure. And when I take it further it makes a weird humming noise (similar to the stall warning horn sound but not as pronounced.) So I figure I should leave it be until I am on top of the next airport to land on. I get over a familiar airport nearby with large runways and decide to remove power. And so I pull power to what should be idle, only comes down to like 18mp which in an old mooney doesn't do much to help you get down/slow down. Also the engine was running pretty rough, I had the carb heat on. So I finally got it down to pattern level and get the gear down get ready to pull the mixture and silence......Glided in really smoothly and set her down 1/3 down the runway.

After coasting to a stop we realize this is way to far to have to push the plane to the ramp ! So we turn it back on and it roars back to full power and they only effect I have is to turn it off.....
It was about 8-10 degrees F OAT on the ground....So who's got guesses ? I have my ideas but am curious to see what other think or have had this experience. It was dark and f-ing cold out so we didn't bother taking the cowl off, my mechanic will be looking at it tomorrow. Pretty weird glad it was too much power vs. the opposite !

Mike

sounds like too much caffeine intake

Dude, nice save. That's definitely preferable to the alternate.

Broken or loose throttle cable.

Sounds like the engine end of the outside throttle cable housing came adrift....just a guess.

That is why the put a spring on the throttle arm, so it goes to full power, and saves the day.

You could use the red throttle. Lean of peak you have everything from full power to idle cutoff available. Might go a bit lumpy with a carb, but my IO-540 runs smooth, with ever decreasing power, down to the point where the fire goes out.

YB

I did use that a bit however it was real rough on the engine with the carb, I had full power, really rough 2200 rmp, or off. And as not to beat on the engine and since I never felt in real danger i just turned it off. I think that the throttle cable was the culprit however am awaiting my mechanics results (however there is snow this weekend so he will be off skiing until the weather turns).....

Mike