M-5
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 1500; Flight Crew Type 800
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft
I was out looking for a picnic area for the family on the river. I found a place and landed. On takeoff; I felt a thump as I rotated and started climbing into the air. In the shadow of my plane; I could see something looked strange about my tailwheel; but couldn't tell for sure. To be safe; I landed at [a nearby] airstrip due to it being nice and wide and long in case anything happened. On landing; my tailwheel and spring came off and my right main gear collapsed causing the aircraft to ground loop by hitting the right wingtip and prop. I must have hit a rock or something on takeoff causing my landing gear to malfunction on landing.
Maule M5 220C pilot reported damaging his tailwheel during takeoff from a river bank. He lost directional control on the ensuing landing when the tailwheel came off and the right main gear collapsed.