Narrative:

On run-up prior to takeoff, propeller control was binding but seemed to work normally when forced into position. Departed runway 24. On takeoff, power seemed deficient. I checked oil pressure, temperature and airspeed -- all looked normal, so continued. Once in air, I spotted low RPM (approximately 2100 RPM) and low rate of climb. I declared emergency to tower -- they cleared me to land on any runway. I made gentle bank turn to land successfully on runway 33. On ground, I found that although propeller control was pushed full forward, it actually stopped while still partially out. Mechanic found binding propeller control cable. Analysis: although propeller control could be moved back in and RPM increased during run-up, it was not obvious that control could not move all the way. Pilot should have rejected takeoff while still on runway even though he could not definitely analyze cause of strange performance. Pilot was influenced by get homeitis, to proceed with 650 NM to get home before late evening. Also, work commitments following day. I used full length of runway 24, result may not have been so good if I accepted intersection departure.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C177 PLT, DEPARTING PNE, COULD NOT ATTAIN NORMAL RPM OR RATE OF CLB, DECLARED AN EMER RETURN LAND.

Narrative: ON RUN-UP PRIOR TO TKOF, PROP CTL WAS BINDING BUT SEEMED TO WORK NORMALLY WHEN FORCED INTO POS. DEPARTED RWY 24. ON TKOF, PWR SEEMED DEFICIENT. I CHKED OIL PRESSURE, TEMP AND AIRSPD -- ALL LOOKED NORMAL, SO CONTINUED. ONCE IN AIR, I SPOTTED LOW RPM (APPROX 2100 RPM) AND LOW RATE OF CLB. I DECLARED EMER TO TWR -- THEY CLRED ME TO LAND ON ANY RWY. I MADE GENTLE BANK TURN TO LAND SUCCESSFULLY ON RWY 33. ON GND, I FOUND THAT ALTHOUGH PROP CTL WAS PUSHED FULL FORWARD, IT ACTUALLY STOPPED WHILE STILL PARTIALLY OUT. MECH FOUND BINDING PROP CTL CABLE. ANALYSIS: ALTHOUGH PROP CTL COULD BE MOVED BACK IN AND RPM INCREASED DURING RUN-UP, IT WAS NOT OBVIOUS THAT CTL COULD NOT MOVE ALL THE WAY. PLT SHOULD HAVE REJECTED TKOF WHILE STILL ON RWY EVEN THOUGH HE COULD NOT DEFINITELY ANALYZE CAUSE OF STRANGE PERFORMANCE. PLT WAS INFLUENCED BY GET HOMEITIS, TO PROCEED WITH 650 NM TO GET HOME BEFORE LATE EVENING. ALSO, WORK COMMITMENTS FOLLOWING DAY. I USED FULL LENGTH OF RWY 24, RESULT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SO GOOD IF I ACCEPTED INTXN DEP.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.