Mine has done the same, and I did the same fix, bent a new loop in to the spring.

Then it broke again and after that last fix it started creaking near the end of the race, which made it annoying to use. I called up Airtronics and had them me a new spring plus a steering wheel (since my existing wheel was beat up). Shipping I think cost more than the parts, but then I didn't have to ship in my radio either.