Schweizer 2-33 pilot noted limited forward stick movement during in-tow takeoff; released from tow; ...

Attributes
ACN	1007471
Time
Date	201204
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Sail Plane
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Initial Climb
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Elevator Control Column
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Private Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Glider
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5.8 Flight Crew Total 524 Flight Crew Type 15
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy

Narrative:

I took off in a (glider) schweizer 2-33a being towed by a cessna 150. After realizing I did not have full forward elevator movement; I climbed in tow to 1;000 ft AGL; released from tow; and returned to the airport. I had a normal landing. The reason for not having full forward stick movement was that the rear seatbelt had been secured around the yoke. I failed to observe this in the preflight check; and did not confirm full forward elevator movement before flight. [I should] be sure to perform a through preflight walk around and before takeoff check with checklists. Be sure of full control movement (free and correct).

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Schweizer 2-33 pilot noted limited forward stick movement during in-tow takeoff; released from tow; and returned to land. Pilot found rear seatbelt secured around control stick.

Narrative: I took off in a (glider) Schweizer 2-33A being towed by a Cessna 150. After realizing I did not have full forward elevator movement; I climbed in tow to 1;000 FT AGL; released from tow; and returned to the airport. I had a normal landing. The reason for not having full forward stick movement was that the rear seatbelt had been secured around the yoke. I failed to observe this in the preflight check; and did not confirm full forward elevator movement before flight. [I should] be sure to perform a through preflight walk around and before takeoff check with checklists. Be sure of full control movement (free and correct).

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.