AN ANTIQUE STINSON 108-2 VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF A RWY.

Narrative

AFTER HAVING SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED SEVERAL PRACTICE LNDGS IN THE ACFT; A STINSON 108-2; I HAD A TEMPORARY LOSS OF CTL. I WAS DOING A 'WHEEL' LNDG. AFTER TOUCHING THE WHEELS DOWN AT 80 MPH; I BLED OFF SPD AND LOWERED THE TAIL. ALL WAS NORMAL. BUT WHEN THE TAIL WHEEL CONTACTED THE RWY; THE ACFT VEERED SUDDENLY TO THE L. I APPLIED FULL UP ELEVATOR AND MAX PRESSURE ON THE R BRAKE PEDAL. BUT THE ACFT EXITED THE RWY ONTO THE GRASS NEARBY WHERE IT RAPIDLY SLOWED TO A HALT. I NARROWLY MISSED A RWY LIGHT. AFTER DISCUSSION WITH THE TWR; I SHUT DOWN THE ENG AND GOT OUT AND EXAMINED THE ACFT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO IT OR TO ANY ARPT PROPERTY THAT I COULD SEE. THERE WAS NO INJURY TO ANYONE. I RESTARTED THE ENG AND; AT THE TWR'S REQUEST; TAXIED OVER TO THE RAMP AND DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH THE CTLR. AT FIRST HE SAID I HAD WIPED OUT A RWY LIGHT; BUT AFTER CHKING WITH A GNDS KEEPER; WHO INSPECTED IT; HE AGREED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE; AND THAT THE LIGHT IN QUESTION HAD SUFFERED LITTLE; IF ANY; DAMAGE. I THEN FLEW THE ACFT BACK TO ITS HOME ARPT. I LANDED ON A GRASS STRIP WITHOUT USING BRAKES OR TAIL-WHEEL STEERING. I BELIEVE THE INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY TAIL-WHEEL STEERING MECHANISM; COUPLED WITH AN INEFFECTIVE WHEEL BRAKE.