The pilot and co-pilot, the only two people on board the UH-1H Huey, declared the emergency at 2:39 p.m. as they returned from a two-hour training mission.
The helicopter was in a grassy area next to the Guard's Army Aviation Flight Facility at Raleigh-Durham International Airport and was only about three feet above the ground at the time. The crew immediately landed, shut the aircraft down and put out the fire with an onboard fire extinguisher.
As with all declared aircraft emergencies of any type, airport fire and rescue units responded to the scene.
The helicopter appeared to have suffered little damage. The cause of the problem was under investigation Monday afternoon.
The North Carolina Army National Guard operates two UH-1H Huey helicopters based at the RDU facility.
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