Incident Overview
The pilot reported that while on downwind, wind had increased with light turbulence. To avoid turbulence, the pilot planned to land beyond some trees. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered a gust of wind. The pilot applied rudder and aileron corrections along with heavy braking. The airplane departed the runway and impacted a pipe rack, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that a tailwheel spring, part number 3432, was bent and its spring rate was weak. This condition allowed the tailwheel's fork to caster freely because it did not engage into its machined locking detent.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was the failure of the tailwheel spring, which permitted the tailwheel fork to caster freely, compromising directional control during the landing roll.