Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 1350; Flight Crew Type 600
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
After [a] maneuver practice [for] stalls at 4500 MSL [and with] power [at] Idle due to maneuver practice; [I] tried [to] increase power after [the] maneuver [but] it never went up to normal RPM. Cessna 172's normal RPM with full power setting is normally 2100-2400 RPM; but [the] aircraft [only had] 1000-1100 RPM with full throttle setting. Possible power; [or] engine; loss identified [so I] selected [the] best course of action: maintain best glide speed; find good landing field; go over [the] checklist.[I] finished [the] engine failure checklist [a] few times; checked all engine indicators; [but the] engine seemed [to] not come back. [I] set 7700 on [the] transponder [and] told TRACON about situation. With 4;500 MSL [in a] Cessna; there was no way to go [to the] nearest airport at that location. [I] set up for [an] emergency landing on [an] empty field; [and] pumped [the] throttle for [one] last chance. After losing 2;000 feet; [at] about 2;300 MSL; [or] 1;300 AGL; [the] power came back somehow. Told ATC for [a] diversion to ZZZ; [and] climbed as much as possible in case of second power loss. [I] made safe landing at ZZZ. 2 souls were on board; no one got injured; [and the] airplane landed safely on runway. Maintenance will inspect aircraft. The rental aircraft company claims that [the] plane has [had] [a] history [of] engine problems 2 times before.
C172 Flight Instructor reported a loss of engine power requiring a return to departure airport and a precautionary landing.