What to do when the throttle cable in your KR2 snaps in mid air. Last week
Thursday I was flying "Shrek" around Phalaborwa just for fun at 1000 vt AGL.
When I returned to the airfield, I noticed my speed was sitting at 160mph
and closed the throttle to slow down. Nothing happened. The engine was still
running at full power I joined on downwind and started preparing myself for
an emergency landing. I called on the radio for ground assistance in case
things got out of hand.
The throttle design is such that a spring opens the throttle and the lever
in the cockpit is to pull the throttle closed. In a way it is better than
the push rod idea but anyhow.
I planed to turn the magnetos off on a glide slope that I knew would take
me to the runway without power. As it is, the KR picks up speed even with
power off if the glide is not flat enough. The fire department was getting
ready as I went around a couple of times at flat speed. During my last go
around I pulled the cable housing out of the lever box (with my one hand)
and managed to remove the metal cap over the cable housing end. This exposed
4mm of the cable tip. I clamped the 1.7mm cable between my thumb and
forefinger and pulled the inner out. The power came down and I could use the
accelerator like that. Now on finals I realized that at some stage I will
need my left hand to apply brakes and cut the engine. So on short finals I
let go of the cable, the revs shot up but before much happened I cut the
engine at the magnetos. A perfect dead stick landing followed and pushed the
plane back to the hanger.
There are few things to learn from this.
1.. Don't panic and make hasty decisions. Take your time and plan your
crash ( it may not be one)
2.. Practice engine off approaches so you get to know your aircraft and
glide ratios
3.. Carry enough fuel so you can use it if you need to stay in the air
longer than planed.
4.. Wear brown pants.
