A PA18 experienced tailwheel steering failure after landing and subsequently departed the runway.

Attributes
ACN	632879
Time
Date	200410
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : omn.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	PA-18/19 Super Cub
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	landing : roll
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 21 flight time total : 533 flight time type : 207
ASRS Report	632879
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical excursion : runway other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

Final phase of landing, completed touchdown, on rollout when spring linkage to tailwheel broke. Unable to maintain directional control, resulting in aircraft departing runway to left, coming to full stop in soggy grass and water. New linkage currently being applied, and will be replaced yrly with annual inspection and maintenance of aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A PA18 EXPERIENCED TAILWHEEL STEERING FAILURE AFTER LNDG AND SUBSEQUENTLY DEPARTED THE RWY.

Narrative: FINAL PHASE OF LNDG, COMPLETED TOUCHDOWN, ON ROLLOUT WHEN SPRING LINKAGE TO TAILWHEEL BROKE. UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CTL, RESULTING IN ACFT DEPARTING RWY TO L, COMING TO FULL STOP IN SOGGY GRASS AND WATER. NEW LINKAGE CURRENTLY BEING APPLIED, AND WILL BE REPLACED YRLY WITH ANNUAL INSPECTION AND MAINT OF ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.