Date: 201605
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operator: FBO
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
Aircraft component: Throttle/Power Lever
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: FBO
Reporter function: Instructor; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: I was acting as Pilot in Command; as a flight instructor; in a Cessna 172. I was providing private pilot flight instruction to a student pilot. At that time I was approximately 15 miles to the southeast of [home airport] at 4500ft MSL.I had control of the aircraft and was demonstrating a stall maneuver; when upon recovery I pushed the throttle control knob full forward; but noticed that the engine RPM did not increase beyond 2000 RPM. I attempted to troubleshoot the problem and noticed that the Throttle control knob would not increase or decrease the engine RPM. The throttle was stuck at 2000 RPM. I turned the plane back towards [home airport] and began a descent. [Another small airport] was closer; but since I still had power; I decided to return to [the home airport] for the longer; wider runway with a control tower. I [advised ATC] and informed them of the stuck throttle. I proceeded to the airport in a descent; and was cleared for landing once I arrived overhead. Once I was abeam the landing runway I had to pull the mixture control to idle/cutoff to shut off the engine. I then continued my descent and landed without power. I was able to continue; without power; off of the runway; onto taxiway; where I stopped awaiting a tug to remove the plane from the taxiway. I was later present when [the FBO manager] removed the plane's cowling to determine the problem. I noted that the throttle control cable was completely removed from the throttle lever. I was then informed that maintenance was just performed on this plane in which the throttle cable would have been removed from the throttle. My flight was the first flight since the maintenance was performed. Prior to takeoff I conducted a preflight inspection; and run-up; and was not able to detect any malfunction. During the takeoff roll and climb-out the plane; and throttle control; performed as normal. I believe the connector holding the throttle cable to the throttle body came off during flight.




Synopsis: A C172 flight instructor reported a loss of throttle control in a mid-range setting. A return to the departure airport was initiated where the mixture was pulled to cutoff on downwind and a successful landing was made.