Incident Overview
During the landing roll of a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the tailwheel failed and separated from its mount area, resulting in a ground loop. The pilot reported that the landing itself was normal, but soon after touchdown the aircraft began to drift to the right. Applying left rudder input did not correct the drift, and the pilot noted a violent tailwheel shimmy developed.
Pilot Actions
In response to the shimmy, the pilot reduced aft elevator control in an attempt to reduce load on the tailwheel. Despite this, the shimmy became more violent, making it difficult for the pilot to keep his feet on the rudder pedals. Subsequently, a loud bang was heard, and the aircraft made a sudden turn to the left. The airplane then ground looped and came to rest upright.
Post-Event Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane after the event and found that the tailwheel had failed at its mount area. The control cables remained attached to their respective steering horns.