ERA25LA338

On September 10, 2025, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206, N992MR, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Monroe, Geogia. The flight instructor and student pilot were seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. According to the flight instructor, he and the student were practicing hovering at about 10-15ft agl in an open field when the helicopter suddenly, and violently, turned to the right. The instructor, who was sitting in the left seat, immediately rolled the throttle control to the idle position before the helicopter contacted the ground. The helicopter immediately caught fire and was consumed. The flight instructor stated that the student pilot had purchased the helicopter about a month ago and that he had flown with the student 3 or 4 times in that helicopter prior to the accident. On the day of the accident, the flight instructor met the student pilot at the student pilot’s residence where the helicopter was stored. The training for the day included a flight from the student pilot’s residence to Covington Municipal Airport (CVC) in Covington, Georgia, where they did some training before refueling. The instructor stated that they filled the helicopter with fuel before departing CVC and headed toward the field where the accident occurred to practice hovering. While practicing hovering, the instructor stated that he was on the controls with the student and did not feel any erratic maneuvers or jerking that would have caused the helicopter to turn violently to the right. The wreckage was retained for further examination.