LAX98LA070

During taxi in nighttime conditions to the ramp area to offload a patient, the pilot did not see any room to park the aircraft. The crew decided to initiate a turn around and taxi through a T-hanger to reposition the airplane prior to offloading the patient. During the taxi through the hanger area, the vertical stabilizer collided with the awning of the hanger and the airplane came to a complete stop. The pilot thought the airplane's wheel was stuck on a wheel chock so he added power. The airplane lurched forward while the vertical stabilator was still in contact with the structure.

On January 8, 1998, at 0515 hours mountain standard time, a British Aerospace Jetstream 3101, N752JX, collided with a covered hangar while attempting to taxi underneath it at Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix, Arizona. The aircraft, operated by Native American Air Ambulance, sustained substantial damage. The flight crew, one paramedic, one flight nurse, the patient, and one relative were not injured. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 135 when the accident occurred. The flight originated in San Carlos, Arizona, at 0435.

According to the airport police report, Samaritan Air Evac reported that an aircraft hit their covered tie down structure and heavily damaged the aircraft and the structure. The airplane had just landed with a patient and taxied up to Air Evac to meet a waiting ambulance. The aircraft was observed entering the ramp on the east side of the covered parking structure and tried to pass under the cover to make a U-turn and head back to the north. The aircraft's tail hit the top of the parking structure, which severely damaged the top 3 feet of the vertical stabilizer. The aircraft continued through the parking structure, striking the roof in three different areas. Airport police responded to the accident site and filled out an aircraft accident report.

According to the pilot/operator report, the crew was taxiing to the fixed base operator when they did not find any room to park. The crew decided to taxi through the sun awning and return to the north end of the ramp to offload the patient.

The Sky Harbor Airport Operations report stated the pilot was taxiing to the ramp and attempted to turn the airplane around but didn't have enough room. He proceeded to taxi under the metal awning. As he got under the awning, the airplane stopped. The pilot said he thought the wheel was stuck on a wheel chock, so he powered up the plane. The plane strained, then lurched forward. The pilot heard crunching sounds and a thud.

The pilot-in-command reported he went through the basic indoctrination with Native American Air Ambulance on May 26, 1998. He had recently been upgraded to the pilot-in-command position with his FAR Part 135 Airman competency check on December 23, 1997. A review of the Native American Air Ambulance duty time logs revealed no discrepancies in the duty time limits.

The second-in-command reported he went through the basic indoctrination on the BA3100 aircraft for the position of first officer on April 3, 1997.