20110827020299A

Pilot was practicing solo flight training operations in preparation for his commercial pilot rotorcraft-helicopter rating. Such practice was being conducted within an off-airport location leased by bristow academy, which contained designated landing locations for helicopters. However, pilot elected to land in an area not specifically designated for landings and under-estimated the height of the grass in the area selected for landing. Upon landing and while the engine was being operated at idle power, the tall grass (measured in excess of 3 feet high at the accident scene) came in contact with the engine exhaust system. Such contact caused the grass to ignite and a grass fire quickly spread under the helicopter. According to the pilot, he was not initially aware of the grass fire and lifted the helicopter into about a 3 foot hover. Once off the ground, he observed smoke on his right side and suspected the possibility of a grass fire. The pilot attempted to move the helicopter forward and to the left, but the engine lost power due to significant ingestion of smoke and flame into the induction system, and the helicopter settled back to the ground and into the burning grass fire. The pilot evacuated the helicopter, sustaining only minor injury due to flame. However, the helicopter was partially destroyed due to fire, and approximately 15 acres of grass land surrounding the helicopter was also consumed by fire. Post accident on-scene investigation of N2093U revealed no mechanical defects or any other abnormalities that would have caused a grass fire. The sole cause of the fire was high grass being ignited by the engine exhaust system of N2093U while such helicopter was being operated on the ground.