A KITFOX IV ON LNDG PLT LOST TAIL WHEEL STEERING. ACFT DEPARTED L OF RWY AND GROUNDLOOPED. ACFT INCURRED DAMAGE.

Narrative

DURING SECOND LNDG AT ARPT; MY ACFT HAD A NORMAL TOUCHDOWN BUT DURING ROLLOUT ACFT DRIFTED TO L AND COULD NOT BE BROUGHT BACK TO CTRLINE. ACFT CONTINUED OFF L SIDE OF RWY AND GROUNDLOOPED SUSTAINING MINOR DAMAGE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT BOTH TAIL WHEEL SPRINGS HAD DISCONNECTED RENDERING THE TAIL WHEEL STEERING INOP. I BELIEVE THAT THE SPRINGS DETACHED ON THE FIRST LNDG WHICH INVOLVED A LOW BOUNCE AND A SWERVE WHICH REQUIRED FULL RUDDER AND SOME BRAKE TO RECOVER DIRECTIONAL CTL. IN RETROSPECT; I SHOULD HAVE PARKED AND INSPECTED THE ACFT AFTER THE FIRST LNDG ALTHOUGH THE TKOF WAS NORMAL. I FEEL WE SHOULD ALWAYS LOOK THE ACFT OVER WHEN IT IS SUBJECTED TO HIGH STRESSES WHETHER IT BE INFLT OR ON THE GND. IT ONLY TAKES 1 SMALL PART TO FAIL OR MALFUNCTION TO RUIN YOUR DAY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED ON THE FIRST LNDG A LOW BOUNCE WAS MADE AND BELIEVE THE TAIL WHEEL CTRING SPRINGS DISCONNECTED. THE SPRINGS HAD BEEN REPLACED AT VARIOUS TIMES OVER THE 13 YRS OF OWNERSHIP. THE SPRINGS HAVE NO RETAINERS ON THE HOOK ENDS TO PREVENT DISCONNECTING. THE DAMAGE WAS TO THE R WINGTIP; R GEAR COLLAPSED; PROP DAMAGE AND THE ENG MOST LIKELY WILL BE TORN DOWN FOR SUDDEN STOPPAGE.