Accident Details
During the takeoff roll, a tail wheel airplane had just become airborne, reaching an altitude of about 2 feet, when it suddenly veered to the left. The pilot attempted to land on the remaining runway, but the airplane continued its leftward path and impacted trees beside the runway.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the tail wheel leaf spring had separated from the tail wheel assembly. The wheel was found "jammed" against the rudder. Examination of the fracture surface indicated it was consistent with a fatigue failure.
Maintenance History
The airplane's most recent annual inspection had been completed approximately 9 months prior to the accident. According to the inspection records, no anomalies were noted during that inspection. Checking the tail wheel spring was a required item during an annual inspection. However, without removing the outer clip, a pilot would not be able to check the spring during a preflight inspection.