19981016029499A

Air taxi struck the wing tip of a parked Cessna acft,(.19) on October 16, 1998, at 1555 Alaska daylight time, a britten-norman BN-2A airplane, N6522T, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a parked airplane during takeoff roll from the English Bay Airport, English Bay, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and the seven passengers were not injured. The airplane was oeprated by c and l, inc., doing business as homer air service, of homer, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR part 135 as an on demand air taxi flight from English Bay to homer. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company VFR flight plan was filed. The company chief pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview on October 17, that there was a right crosswind, estimated to be 20 knots gusting to 25 knots. During the takeoff roll from gravel runway 19, which measures 1,850 feet long by 50 feet wide, the airplane drifted left and struck an airplane parked on the runway edge. (.4) the airplane was departing runway 19, with winds from 240 degrees magnetic at 20 knots gusting to 25 knots, when it collided with an airplane parked across the east edge of the runway. No ramp area exists at the airport, requiring airplanes to park on the runway edge of the 1,850 feet long by 50 feet wide airstrip. The pilots of both airplanes told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that there was room to taxi past the parked airplane. (-23) N6522T arrived at English Bay. During the approach to rwy 19, the pilot stated he had a direct crosswind from the right. He said it was strong but manageable. N3347L, a ce 185, followed N6522T in for landing. N3347L parked next to N6522T and because there is no ramp area, the pilot said she pushed the aircraft as FAR back from the runway areas as she could. N6522T loaded seven passengers and no freight. The pilot said he taxied back for a rwy 19 departure. He said the crosswind was stil from the right and estimated wind gusts at 25 to 30 KTS. The pilot said N3374L was parked on his left. He said he started his take off run and as the aircraft accelerated, it was suddenly hit by a very hard gust that picked up the right wing and pushed the aircraft to the left and the left wing tip hit the cowling of N3347. The pilot said he had throttled back and came to a stop. There were no injur ies to passengers in either aircraft. Passengers in N6522T verified this information. This is an ongoing investigation. Information will be forwarded as received.