What happened
A certificated airline transport pilot was attempting to land an aircraft at a remote, off-airport site consisting of a tundra-covered area. The site was approximately 800 feet long and 100 feet wide, oriented southwest/northeast.
Upon overflying the site, the pilot identified a 55-gallon fuel drum located at the southwest end of the strip. Due to a light wind from the northeast, the pilot determined that a downwind approach was necessary to avoid the obstacle. The pilot configured the aircraft with full flaps and commenced an approach toward the southwest.
During the approach, a tailwind pushed the airplane beyond the pilot's intended touchdown point. As the main wheels made contact with the ground, they struck a rut, causing the airplane to bounce back into the air. In an attempt to abort the landing, the pilot applied full power. Shortly after lift-off, the aircraft's nose wheel and propeller struck the fuel drum at the end of the airstrip.
The impact with the drum caused the engine to undergo violent vibrations. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing at a different tundra-covered site located approximately 1/4 mile from the original intended location. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the left wing, and the pilot was not injured.