Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Student
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 22; Flight Crew Total 61; Flight Crew Type 61
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Human Factors
I was descending to land on runway X [but] I was unhappy with my landing set-up.  I touched down and immediately bounced the landing.  I attempted to do a go-around.  This is where I think the problem arose.  When I do touch and goes; it is automatic for me to put the flaps up immediately once I land the plane.  I believe my muscle memory messed me up.  I initiated the go around; carb heat in and full throttle.  Instead of waiting to build airspeed and altitude to do 10 degree flap increment retractions; I put them all up at once.  It was also gusting that day a bit.  It is also possibility that the winds stopped gusting.  The mixture of both could have caused my lift to immediately dissipate.  At this point; the plane landed back on the runway.  The landing was hard; but did not bounce the second time.  I pulled the throttle back to idle and remained on the runway.  I then proceeded to push throttle back in to initiate takeoff.  During my pattern; I noticed the elevator controls were not working optimally.  It felt like when you lose your power control steering in your car.  I was able to move the yoke forward and pull back on it only a little bit.  Also; I had to apply a lot of force to do so.  I told Tower that I was having flight control issues.  On my downwind; Tower asked me if I [needed assistance]; I confirmed.  A Caravan was about 2 miles out to the east from landing on runway X.  Tower cleared me for number 2 on landing following the Caravan.  I then told Tower that I needed to land first.  I landed the plane only being able to use minimal muscled elevator controls.  Upon initial inspection on the external surfaces; there appeared to be no damage except a stiff elevator.  I believe that in order to prevent a re-occurrence; I need to practice more go-around procedures and slow flight to break my mistaken muscle memory.
C172 pilot reported utilizing improper touch-and-go procedure as well as stiff elevator control.