ANC98LA056

The pilot was departing a rural village runway with two passengers on an air taxi flight. The center of the runway surface had numerous puddles of water. During the takeoff roll, the left main wheel entered a mud puddle, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot corrected to the right, and raised the airplane's nose to lift off into ground effect, and avoid any more areas of water. The airplane descended slightly, and the pilot lowered the nose to gain airspeed. The airplane climbed away from the runway, and the pilot continued to the destination airport. Upon landing, the pilot discovered damage to the outboard end of the left horizontal stabilizer. The operator reported the airplane struck a runway edge light. An FAA airworthiness inspector reported that the damage to the stabilizer would necessitate the replacement of the outboard nose rib. The Airport Facility Directory listing for the accident airport indicated that potholes were present along the entire length of the runway. The runway was graded about 2 weeks before the accident.

On May 21, 1998, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 207 airplane, N755AB, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Quinhagak Airport, Quinhagak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled passenger flight under Title 14 CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Yute Air Alaska Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, and two passengers, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. VFR company flight following procedures were in effect.

The operator reported the pilot was departing runway 04 at Quinhagak. The center of the runway surface had numerous puddles of water. During the takeoff roll, the left main wheel entered a mud puddle, and the airplane veered to the left. The pilot corrected to the right, and raised the airplane's nose to lift off into ground effect, and avoid any more areas of water. The airplane descended slightly, and the pilot lowered the nose to gain airspeed. The airplane climbed away from the runway, and the pilot continued to the destination of Bethel, Alaska. Upon landing, the pilot discovered damage to the outboard end of the left horizontal stabilizer. The operator reported the airplane struck a runway edge light at Quinhagak.

On May 26, 1998, the operator's Director of Maintenance reported the company replaced the entire left stabilizer. On May 27, 1998, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector, Anchorage Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported the damage to the stabilizer would necessitate the replacement of the outboard nose rib.

The Alaska Supplement/Airport Facility Directory for Quinhagak states, in part: "Airport remarks - Unattended. Runway condition not monitored, recommend visual inspection prior to using. Potholes entire length of runway. Runway 04-22 marked with reflective cones and threshold panels, some are damaged and obscured by brush. Equipment occasionally on runway. Runway 04-22 may flood. North side of runway lined with sandbags. East edge of apron undercut by river washout."

On August 28, 1998, the manager of the Alaska Department of Transportation (AKDOT) office, Bethel, Alaska, reported that the Bethel office is responsible for 26 rural village airports. Runway maintenance is conducted by State of Alaska personnel on an as-needed basis. All of the runways are inspected each calendar quarter, but no firm schedule is established. Access to the villages, and the ability to conduct any runway grading, is weather and ground condition dependent. The Bethel office has two runway maintenance personnel, and one electrician. Runway conditions are usually reported to the State of Alaska by pilots of the air charter companies that fly into the villages. If State personnel cannot conduct runway maintenance at a particular village, the reported runway conditions are listed in FAA Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs).

The Bethel AKDOT office indicated a NOTAM was issued on May 4, 1998, that cautioned pilots about men and equipment working on the south 1,300 feet of the runway at Quinhagak. The NOTAM was put into effect for the purpose of grading the runway.