Mcdonnell Douglas 369E accident near Manhattan, Kansas, March 3, 1996
On March 3, 1996 at about 9:58 pm local time, a Mcdonnell Douglas 369E (helicopter), registered N7065C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manhattan, Kansas. It was an other work-use flight under external-load helicopter rules (Part 133). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper planning/decision by the pilot, which resulted in fuel exhaustion due to an inadequate supply of fuel. A factor relating to the accident was: pressure to meet a work schedule.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1996 · about 9:58 pm local time
- Place
- Manhattan, Kansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Mcdonnell Douglas 369E
- Registration
- N7065C · no longer on the register · serial 0303E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · external-load helicopter rules (Part 133)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before starting a flight to replace power line poles, the helicopter was serviced with 350 pounds of fuel. Normally, six poles were replaced on each flight. As work was being performed on the sixth pole, the helicopter engine lost total power after about 1.6 hours of flight time. The helicopter was damaged during a forced landing. A total of 20 ounces of fuel was drained from the main tank; unusable fuel reserve in that tank was considered to be 2.5 gallons. No mechanical failure/malfunction of the airframe, powerplant, fuel system, or flight controls was discovered during the investigation. Due to unforeseen delays, the company was behind schedule concerning their powerline installation contract.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,533 hours in all; 3,597 in this make and model; 295 in the last 90 days; 97 in the last 30 days; 5,396 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,698 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, February 13, 1996; 78 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allison 250-C20B (turboshaft); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from MHK, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.