Mead Airport: Mead, Washington

Airport is located 1 mile north of Mead.

The pilot reported that shortly after touchdown (three-point landing) the airplane developed a significant vibration/shimmy emanating from the area of the tailwheel. He reported that immediately after the onset of the vibration the airplane began to "pull to the right." The pilot applied corrective actions, however the airplane continued to track to the right and exited the runway edge. After exiting the runway, the airplane collided with a berm and ground looped. The pilot reported that a post accident examination of the tailwheel assembly revealed that the left control spring was disconnected. The pilot further stated that he believed the control spring become disconnected as a result of the shimmy during landing.
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The pilot said that he had flown this airplane before, but this was the first flight with this engine. He said that immediately after takeoff the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot told the Federal Aviation Administration Inspector that he did not want to land in a housing area at the end of the runway; therefore, he reversed his flight path by applying full left rudder. The first responders found that the airplane had impacted a shed approximately 150 yards past the departure end of runway 34; the pilot said the airplane came to rest on airport property. The airplane's left wing was broken and nearly separated from the fuselage.