AN MD80 ON DSCNT FROM FL350 TO FL240 DECLARED AN EMER DUE TO THE L ENG THRUST LEVER WOULD NOT RETARD FROM CRUISE. AUTOTHROTTLE DISCONNECTED; NO HELP. AT 17000 FT; THROTTLE RETURNED TO NORMAL.

Narrative

WHEN ADVISED TO DSND FROM FL350 TO FL240; THE L ENG THROTTLE CTL LEVER WOULD NOT COME BACK FROM THE CRUISE POS. THE R THROTTLE CAME BACK NORMALLY. THIS WAS DISCOVERED IMMEDIATELY BY CAPT. HE IMMEDIATELY DISCONNECTED THE AUTOTHROTTLE SYS AND TRIED TO MANUALLY MOVE THE L THROTTLE. THE THROTTLE WAS FROZEN SOLIDLY IN PLACE AT THE CRUISE PWR SETTING. SINCE WE COULD NOT COMPLY WITH ATC INSTRUCTIONS TO DSND IN A NORMAL DSCNT; WE DECLARED AN EMER. WE DECIDED TO TURN ON ALL THE ANTI-ICE PROTECTION TO SEE IF IT WAS ICE CAUSING THIS PROB. WE WERE CLRED DIRECT TO ZZZ IN A SHALLOW DSCNT. WE BROKE OUT THE EMER PROCS AND DISCUSSED OUR OPTIONS. WE DECIDED TO KEEP THE ENG RUNNING UNTIL WE FELT COMFORTABLE SHUTTING THE ENG DOWN. WE WOULD ONLY DO THIS IF WE COULD NOT GAIN CTL OVER THE L THROTTLE AND L ENG. AT ABOUT 17000 FT AFTER ABOUT 8 MINS OF USING THE ANTI-ICE; THE L THROTTLE COULD BE MANUALLY MOVED. WE SET UP FOR A LONG STRAIGHT IN TO ZZZ. WE SHOT THE VISUAL AND LANDED SAFELY. MAINT INSPECTED THE ENG AND FOUND IT TO HAVE AN EXCESS OF WATER IN THE COWLING. WE TOOK THIS AIRPLANE FROM ZZZ TO ZZZ1 THE NEXT LEG WITH NO RECURRING PROB.