PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 17000; Flight Crew Type 250
Workload; Troubleshooting
ATC Issue All Types; Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Aircraft
Filed for 8;000 ft but was getting bounced around. Asked for 10;000 ft and was cleared for climb to 10;000 ft. We were shimming through the tops with clear above. Reported level at 10;000 ft to Washington Center. Within a couple of minutes we began to lose power and started to lose altitude. At about a 200 ft loss; immediately asked ATC for lower; ATC responded by standby. Applied carb heat twice. At 9;600 ft Washington advised 'he showed us at 9;600 ft and gave an altimeter setting.' Asked again for lower and ATC gave us 9;000 ft. We complied and once again had a hard time staying at 9;000 ft. I asked for 6;000 ft and was cleared for 6;000 ft. During entire descent had carb heat on. We leveled off at 6;000 ft and all power was restored. We continued to destination with no further problems noted.Mistakes made: should have had carb heat on longer and should have told ATC of problem; but was distracted by trying to hold altitude and figure out what was wrong. At first I thought it was a cable problem with throttle. Probably should have declared an emergency.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
PA28 pilots reported experiencing carburetor icing at 10;000 feet. Their engine began to lose power; so they applied carb heat and descended to 6;000 feet. During the descent they regained full power and continued.