Regional Jet 200 ER/LR (CRJ200)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft; Human Factors
After leveling off at FL310 feet the number one engine power could not be reduced. The thrust lever was completely unresponsive. After trying to troubleshoot the problem we both looked in the QRH and decided that the only checklist for our situation was 'Thrust Lever Jammed.' We were getting close to destination and we called Maintenance on the radio to see if they might have a suggestion (the last thing we wanted to do was shut down the engine). Maintenance told us; 'You fly them; we fix them;' and that was all they offered. We told the Flight Attendant we were going to shut down the engine and that it would be a normal landing. We checked the weather in nearby alternates to see if conditions were any better than destination and they were worse. We declared an emergency; got vectors to run the checklists; made the announcement to the passengers and landed with no further problems. I was the pilot flying for the procedure; approach; and landing. The biggest threat was shutting down the engine. A single-engine ILS in IMC and high gusty winds ain't no day at the park. I think the flight crew did exactly as we were trained and it resulted in a successful conclusion. At no time were we in any doubt about what we were doing and what the results would be.
Upon level off at FL310; when trying to reduce power to Cruise Power; #1 Thrust Lever was unresponsive. Moving thrust lever to idle produced no change in power setting. All engine instruments for #1 engine remained at climb setting. Captain entered QRH; and found that Thrust Lever Jammed appeared to be the only appropriate checklist. First Officer transferred aircraft control to Captain; and confirmed in the QRH that it appeared to be the only checklist suitable to the problem at hand. Captain attempted to contact Maintenance Control with no response; and upon finally speaking to them; they had no advice for our situation. We declared an emergency. We shut down the engine using the Thrust Lever Jammed checklist while being vectored for arrival. (Diversion was considered; but decided against due to gusty winds.) Captain landed using Single Engine Procedures; and taxied to the gate uneventfully. This event was interesting in that there was no checklist that specifically addressed the problem we encountered. The #1 Thrust Lever was not physically jammed; but instead unresponsive to all inputs. Both pilots reviewed the QRH to ensure we weren't missing a more appropriate checklist. Then; we attempted to contact Maintenance Control to see if they may have some valuable input for this situation. Unfortunately; they did not. It took perhaps 10 minutes to contact them; then when we did the response was; 'Well I'm not a pilot...maybe I can find a QRH.' The Captain and First Officer had no problem responding to the situation; coming up with a plan and executing it. But in attempting to keep the company in the loop and receive assistance from Maintenance; there seemed to be a disconnect. I also feel it would benefit the pilot group to have an appropriate checklist for this problem; or to rename the checklist we used; or add a note; to include Unresponsive Thrust Lever.
CRJ-200 flight crew discovers an unresponsive thrust lever upon level off at FL310. After some discussion it is decided to follow the jammed thrust lever QRH procedure and shut down the engine. A single engine approach and landing ensues.