A COMMERCIAL FIXED WING SMT WAS FLOWN AND OPERATED WITHOUT AN AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTION AFTER INCURRING DAMAGE WHILE UNLOADING CARGO.

Narrative

ON THE MORNING OF DEC/XX/97; I WAS DISPATCHED ON A CARGO ONLY FLT (NO PAX GOING OR RETURNING) TO DROP OFF A HVY CARGO ITEM TO THE VILLAGE OF NOATAK. AFTER LNDG IN NOATAK; I ATTACHED THE TAILSTAND IN PLACE; AND BEGAN THE UNLOADING PROCESS. 4 OF US PUSHED THE CARGO ITEM FROM THE FRONT OF THE CARGO AREA TO THE AFT SECTION OF THE ACFT IN FRONT OF THE CARGO DOOR. WHEN THE 3 HELPERS EXITED THE ACFT I WAS TRYING TO GIVE THE CARGO ITEM A FINAL SHOVE. I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND NOTICED THE ACFT ROTATING L. THE TAILSTAND HAD SOMEHOW SLIPPED OUT FROM UNDER THE TAIL. THEN THE EMPENNAGE DROPPED LIGHTLY ON THE GND. I EXITED THE ACFT THEN WE LIFTED THE TAIL AND UNLOADED THE CARGO ITEM. AFTER LOOKING OVER THE AIRPLANE; THE TAILHOOK WAS BENT AND THE FLAP HAD A DENT IN IT FROM CONTACTING THE LOADER. I CHKED OUT ALL THE CTLS. THE CTLS AND EVERYTHING CHKED OUT OK. SO I ELECTED TO FLY THE ACFT BACK TO KOTZEBUE. AFTER REACHING KOTZEBUE THE MECH LOOKED OVER THE ACFT AND DID ABSOLUTELY NO MAINT TO THE ACFT. HE GOT A FERRY PERMIT AND I FLEW THE ACFT TO OUR MAIN BASE IN NOME. I BELIEVE THE WHOLE THING COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY HAVING SOMEONE HOLDING THE TAILSTAND. BUT AFTER THE FACT; I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A CERTIFIED MECH TO LOOK AT THE ACFT AND GOT A FERRY PERMIT BEFORE FLYING IT TO KOTZEBUE.