Incident
A student pilot made a normal landing in a conventional gear airplane accompanied by a certified flight instructor (CFI). The airplane had been recently purchased by the student. Seconds after touchdown, the airplane began turning slowly to the left. The CFI applied rudder pressure to correct the turn but was unable to move the right rudder pedal more than three or four inches. The left turn continued, and the CFI shouted for the student to “get off the controls.” The CFI reported pushing “very hard” on the right rudder in an effort to stop the left turn, but the right rudder would not move further regardless of the force applied. The left turn accelerated, directional control was lost, and as the airplane ground looped, the right wing tip touched the ground and the right wheel separated from the strut at the axle.
Investigation
Investigation revealed that the student pilot had a shoe size of 14, weighed approximately 250 pounds, and stood 6 feet 6 inches tall. During the rollout, the student's left foot had slipped off the rudder pedal and became jammed between the top portion of the pedal and the console. This jammed foot restricted the pedal's movement.
Findings
The control interference caused by the student's foot jamming between the rudder pedal and the console resulted in the CFI's inability to take corrective action to preclude the loss of control.