Tailwheel malfunction leads to ground loop during touch-and-go practice (N72576)

What happened

The pilot was conducting practice touch-and-go takeoffs and landings on runway 07. Environmental conditions at the time included winds from the north with a speed of less than 5 knots. During the landing roll following the first landing, the aircraft's tailwheel began to behave erratically. As the airplane continued to slow down, the pilot noticed that rudder control effectiveness was diminishing. The pilot delayed applying full power to initiate the go-around. When power was finally applied, the aircraft ground looped.

The investigation

The source text does not provide specific details regarding mechanical examination or post-accident findings beyond the operational narrative described above.

Findings

Contributing factors included the erratic behavior of the tailwheel during the landing roll and the resulting diminishment of rudder control as airspeed decreased. Additionally, the pilot's delay in applying full power contributed to the loss of directional control.