Champion Citabria 7ECA flight crew reported a loss of directional control during Tail Wheel landing training which resulted in a runway excursion. On post flight inspection it was revealed that the right tail wheel spring had departed the plane; a damaged landing light and no injuries reported.
Synopsis
Champion Citabria 7ECA flight crew reported a loss of directional control during Tail Wheel landing training which resulted in a runway excursion. On post flight inspection it was revealed that the right tail wheel spring had departed the plane; a damaged landing light and no injuries reported.
Narrative
After a training flight to a grass strip (ZZZ1) for landing practice we returned to ZZZ we entered a right downwind for Runway XX and then extended for traffic. This led to about a 2.5 mile final. The student was at the controls; we made a normal straight in approach with everything normal and made a nice 3 pt. touch down with very little wind as the plane was rolling out it began to track left; the student had the rudder full to the right and this was not moving the nose I tried to correct it with the right brake from the rear seat as I did this the nose went hard to the right and the student tried to apply left break which in turn lifted the tail and the prop struck the ground. No one was hurt; we exited the aircraft and pushed it off the runway to clear it for traffic. I notified the Tower that we had broken the light and glass was likely on the runway. As I was talking to the Tower the lineman who was helping us noticed that the right tailwheel spring was missing the lineman and another person looked for it on the runway but was unable to find it. In the end I think that the tailwheel spring departed the aircraft at some point in the landing process. The airplane has a propeller strike and it bent the top of the firewall at the base of the wind screen as well as a crushed spinner. Other than that very little damage to the aircraft was noticeable.
Second reporter narrative
The mission for the day was grass strip landings at a nearby private strip (ZZZ1). We departed ZZZ at approximately XA:00; flew to ZZZ1; performed several landings and returned to ZZZ at approximately XB:30. Following a normal approach to Runway XX at ZZZ; on landing rollout the aircraft veered sharply to the left. The aircraft was firmly on the ground; all three wheels; and ground speed was dropping rapidly; estimated 15-20 mph when the swerve started. Application of full right rudder was not enough to correct the left turn. I attempted to apply the right brake; but I believe that I did not get on the heel brake lever properly. The instructor in the back seat did apply the right brake; sending the aircraft to the right. At this point; I applied the left brake; which straightened the aircraft on the runway and the combination lifted the tail; resulting in a prop strike and damage to the prop spinner and cowling. When the aircraft rocked forward the ground speed was almost completely dissipated; the spinner mark on the runway was approximately 2 feet long.After striking the propeller and cowling; the aircraft returned to the normal 3-point position. Neither of us; at least at the time of the incident and writing this report; believed that we had suffered any injury. The Control Tower asked if we required assistance; and we responded that we did. We exited the aircraft and proceeded to push the aircraft clear of the runway rather than waiting for the assistance. After getting the aircraft to the ramp; we noticed the right tailwheel spring was missing. The ground crew that inspected the runway for FOD was unable to locate the missing spring. I do not know if the spring was lost on the final take-off at ZZZ1 or if it happened when the tail slapped back to the ground after the prop strike. However; the missing spring would explain why the aircraft did not respond to application of the right rudder at low speed.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.