Accident Overview
On September 10, 2025, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Bell 206 helicopter, registration N992MR, was destroyed in an accident near Monroe, Georgia. The flight instructor and student pilot sustained serious injuries. The helicopter was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
Sequence of Events
According to the flight instructor, he and the student were practicing hovering at an altitude of 10–15 ft above ground level in an open field when the helicopter suddenly and violently turned to the right. The instructor, seated in the left seat, immediately rolled the throttle control to the idle position before the helicopter contacted the ground. Upon ground contact, the helicopter caught fire and was consumed.
Background
The student pilot had purchased the helicopter about a month before the accident. The instructor had flown with the student three or four times in that helicopter prior to the accident. On the day of the accident, the instructor met the student at the student's residence, where the helicopter was stored. The training for the day included a flight to Covington Municipal Airport (CVC) in Covington, Georgia, where they conducted 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.
Instructor Statement
During the hover practice, 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.
Wreckage Examination
The wreckage was retained for further examination.