What happened
On July 9, 2024, a mid-air collision occurred in the airspace near Edmonton/Villeneuve Airport, Alberta. The incident involved an L R Helicopters Inc. Bell 212 helicopter and a Cessna 172 airplane operated by the Namao Flying Club.
The helicopter was performing a flight from Fort McMurray Airport (CYMM) toward Rocky Mountain House Aerodrome (CYRM) with a single pilot on board. Simultaneously, the airplane was conducting a visual flight rules (VFR) proficiency training session, carrying both a flight instructor and a private pilot.
As the airplane was returning to land at CZVL, approximately 13 nautical miles northwest of the airport, the right wing tip of the aircraft struck the right side of the helicopter's tail skid. Following the impact, the pilot of the helicopter performed an emergency landing in a nearby farm field. The airplane was able to continue its flight and landed safely on the runway at the airport. There were no fatalities or injuries reported in the collision.
The investigation
The TSB conducted a Class 4 investigation into the event. This scope of investigation is limited and focuses on establishing the sequence of events rather than providing deep analytical findings or formal recommendations.