What happened
On a mission supporting firefighting efforts east of Edson, Alberta, an Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2 operated by Range Helicopters Inc. was returning to the Edson airport. During the approach, the pilot decided to accelerate the arrival to avoid conflict with incoming fixed-wing aircraft. While on the final approach, the helicopter entered a descent that led to a hard landing and a subsequent rollover.
Following the impact, the engine remained running for a period before being shut down. Although the aircraft sustained significant damage, no fire occurred. The emergency locator transmitter successfully activated, and the signal was picked up by monitoring services.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the incident. The investigation focused on the flight path during the final approach and the pilot's decision to expedite the arrival due to other air traffic in the area.