Date: 201504
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Fairchild Swearingen Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Landing
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Tail Wheel
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Glider; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Human factors: Confusion
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Excursion Runway; Ground Incursion Taxiway; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: As I taxied from the hangar I noticed that the right brake was somewhat more solid and effective than the left. However; a braking test showed that each brake was able to stop the plane independently. Take-off and the flight were nominal. A strong easterly crosswind was reported but I have landed this plane in similar wind in the past and it was well within my capabilities and the limits of the airplane.The landing was on the centerline of the runway with the right wing low to control drift. Left wheel contact was followed shortly by tailwheel touchdown. The backseat passenger reported that the touchdown was so smooth; he didn't realize we had landed. Immediately after the tailwheel contacted the runway; it began to shimmy for about 1-2 seconds. At the moment the shimmy stopped; the airplane began a rapid turn to the right (into the wind). I countered with increasing left rudder with no effect. When I ran out of left pedal travel; I applied left brake as well. Both measures were not enough to turn the airplane back down the runway. When it was apparent that I would exit the runway; I moved the stick fully aft to protect the propeller from ground strike and used what little directional control I had to avoid the runway lights. The airplane crossed a strip of grass and came to a stop perpendicular to the runway on the parallel taxiway (facing east into the wind). I called the tower and requested clearance to taxi to parking. Tower gave me a left turn which I refused because; at that time; I thought I had a left brake failure and I could turn only to the right. Tower gave me right turns all the way to parking. Upon reaching the parking area; several other pilots and maintenance personnel noticed that the tailwheel steering linkage was broken and hanging below the tail on the right side of the fuselage. Before I shut down; ground control gave me a phone number to call the tower. I called and left a message with my number. Tower never answered and did not return my calls.




Synopsis: PT19 pilot reports landing in a strong crosswind normally then losing control when the tail wheel contacts the runway. This results in the aircraft departing the runway before stopping on the parallel taxiway. After taxi to the ramp it is determined that the tailwheel steering linkage was broken.