Champion Citabria 7ECA
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 11; Flight Crew Total 7224; Flight Crew Type 70
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Aircraft; Human Factors
While doing stop and goes; directional control was lost and aircraft impacted a runway electrical hold short sign with the left tire; wheel and strut and ended up facing approximately 230 degrees. No injuries to student or instructor.Post examination revealed the tail wheel had about 5 inch of side to side sloppy travel while the rudder was held stationary. A tighter tail wheel connection may have provided better overall directional control.
Tailwheel flight instructor reported that the student lost control during landing that resulted in contact with a runway sign.