Incident Overview
A pilot reported that during a departure from Runway 5, the aircraft became airborne prematurely. The pilot attributed this to a hump and the rough nature of the runway surface. Following the premature liftoff, the aircraft momentarily wallowed behind the power curve before establishing a normal climb and acceleration profile.
Wave Strike
Shortly after departure, just off the beach, the left wingtip struck a large ocean wave at an approximate altitude of 70 ft. The aircraft continued flying, but the left wing sustained substantial damage.
Runway and Environmental Conditions
The runway, measuring 2,760 ft in length, is located in close proximity to the beach. According to reports, large ocean waves in the range of 30 ft occasionally occur along the beach just off the airport.
Performance Reference
According to the aircraft owner's manual, the no-wind takeoff distance required to clear a 50 ft obstacle should have been approximately 1,600 ft under a normal takeoff profile.