Accident Details
A helicopter pilot reported that he flew to a clearing, landed, and reset the altimeter to zero. Estimating the grass height at about one foot, he lifted off and entered a hover approximately three feet above the ground. Shortly thereafter, he noticed smoke. Suspecting that the grass was beginning to ignite, the pilot attempted to maneuver the helicopter forward and to the left. During this maneuver, the carburetor-equipped engine lost power, and the rotor speed decayed. The aircraft landed in the grass, which was on fire. The pilot exited the helicopter, which subsequently sustained substantial thermal damage forward of the tailboom.
Pilot and Operator Statements
The pilot provided a written statement of these events. The operator confirmed that the accident location was outside of their approved landing sites. The operator further estimated that the grass was about three feet in height and noted that the location of the engine exhaust was directed toward the grass. The operator reported no mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities prior to the accident.
Aircraft Information
The helicopter involved is a Schweizer model. The Schweizer Aircraft Pilot's Flight Manual contains a caution that landing in tall dry grass can result in a fire due to exhaust heat. No other aircraft details, such as registration or engine count, were specified in the source.