What happened
Following an uneventful landing in a pasture, the pilot began a cool-down procedure for the engine. Approximately one minute into this process, the pilot reduced the throttle to 1,700 RPM. During this period, the pilot felt heat on his back and discovered fire emanating from the engine compartment.
As the pilot attempted to exit the helicopter, he fell backward. While sliding out of the aircraft, the pilot grabbed the cyclic stick while the engine was still running, pulling it to the left side. The aircraft was entirely consumed by fire during the incident. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage following the fire. Due to the extensive damage caused by the flames, the specific origin of the fire could not be determined.