COMMUTER SMT PROPELLER STRIKE ON TKOF.

Narrative

WE TAXIED FROM OUR HANGAR TO THE TERMINAL; LOADED PAX AND BAGGAGE; TAXIED OUT TO RWY 32 FOR DEP. THE COPLT WAS ASSIGNED THE TKOF. UPON ROTATION THE LEFT WING LOWERED AND THE COPLT CORRECTED WITH AILERON. WE CONTINUED THE FLT WITH NO INDICATIONS OF A PROB. UPON STOPPING ENGS AT KING SALMON; AK; WE NOTICED THAT LEFT PROP'S TIPS WERE BENT BACK. I BELIEVE THE GEAR HANDLE WAS IN THE UP POS DURING TAXI OUT FOR DEP. THE HANDLE HAS NO DETENT TO HOLD IT IN POS. IT IS ALSO LOCATED IN A GREAT SPOT FOR ONE'S FOOT TO HIT WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE PLT'S SEAT. THIS IS WHAT MUST HAVE HAPPENED TO ME. THERE ARE NO BELLS; WHISTLES OR LIGHTS TO WARN THE CREW OF THE GEAR HANDLE BEING IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE POS OF THE GEAR. SUGGEST THE GEAR HANDLE BE MOVED TO A SAFER LOCATION; OUT OF THE WAY OF FEET GETTING INTO AND OUT OF THE PLT'S SEAT. IF THIS DOESN'T WORK; AT LEAST MAKE A LOCKING DEVICE TO HOLD THE GEAR HANDLE DOWN OR UP; DEPENDING UPON WHAT IS SELECTED. WE HAVE SUCH A DEVICE IN MIND FOR OUR LTT. A WARNING LIGHT WOULD ALSO BE NICE. OUR TAXI CHKLIST IS BEING REVISED TO INCLUDE A GEAR DOWN CHK. THE ONLY GEAR DOWN CHK IS #4 ON THE ORIGINATING CHKLIST. THIS GEAR PROB WILL BE SOLVED AT OUR COMPANY BUT WILL BE IN THE WAITING FOR OTHER LTT OPERATORS UNTIL THE SYS IS REVISED.