What happened
The pilot departed Runway 5 from an airport situated in close proximity to a beach. Due to a hump and the rough nature of the runway surface, the aircraft became airborne prematurely during the takeoff roll. After wallowing momentarily behind the power curve, the aircraft began a normal climb and acceleration profile.
However, just off the beach, the left wing tip struck a large ocean wave at an approximate altitude of 70 feet. The aircraft continued flying after the impact, but the left wing was substantially damaged. Reports indicate that large ocean waves in the range of 30 feet do occur along the beach just off the airport. The runway length was 2760 feet. According to the owner's manual, the no-wind takeoff distance to clear a 50-foot obstacle should have been approximately 1600 feet on a normal takeoff profile.
Findings
The takeoff performance was affected by the runway conditions and the proximity to the beach. The left wing tip strike occurred due to the low altitude at which the aircraft encountered the wave. The ocean waves in the area can reach significant heights, posing a hazard during low-altitude flight operations near the coast.