The TSB has completed this investigation. The report was published on 29 November 2023.
Hard landing
Range Helicopters Inc.
Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2 (helicopter), C-FAVX
Edson Airport (CYET), Alberta
The occurrence
An Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2, operated by Range Helicopters Inc, was returning to the Edson airport, Alberta, from a staging area supporting firefighting operations to the east of Edson. On approach to the airport, the pilot expedited his arrival due to incoming fixed-wing air traffic. On the final approach to landing, the helicopter entered a descent that resulted in a hard landing and roll-over.
The pilot sustained minor injuries, and the helicopter received significant damage. The engine continued to run after the impact but was eventually shut down. The emergency locator transmitter activated and the signal was received by monitoring services. There was no fire.
Media materials
News release
Investigation report: Hard landing at the Edson Airport, Alberta
Read the news release
Deployment notice
TSB deploys a team of investigators following a helicopter accident at the Edson Airport, Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, 5 May 2023 — The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is deploying a team of investigators to the site of a helicopter accident involving an Airbus A350B2, at the Edson Airport, Alberta, on 4 May 2023. The TSB will gather information and assess the occurrence.
Investigation information
A23W0048
Hard landing
Range Helicopters Inc.
Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2 (helicopter), C-FAVX
Edson Airport (CYET), Alberta
Investigator-in-charge
Gerrit B. Vermeer started his professional aviation career by joining the Mission Aviation Fellowship and moving to Southern Africa. During his time there, he served as a line pilot and acted as chief pilot and operations manager. Upon returning to Canada, Mr. Vermeer flew for a charter operator out of the Edmonton International Airport, serving the oil and gas industry. In 2008, he joined Transport Canada and, for five and a half years, worked as an inspector in the Enforcement Branch. He then transferred to the Operations department of the Prairie and Northern Region and, for the next year, served as a principle operations inspector for a number of northern operators.
Mr. Vermeer has a Bachelor’s degree in Mission Aviation Technology and currently holds a fixed wing airline transport pilot licence with approximately 6400 hours of flight time. He also holds a Canadian aircraft maintenance engineer license, as well as an airframe and powerplant technician license issued by the USA's Federal Aviation Administration.
Download high-resolution photos from the TSB Flickr page.
Class of investigation
This is a class 4 investigation. These investigations are limited in scope, and while the final reports may contain limited analysis, they do not contain findings or recommendations. Class 4 investigations are generally completed within 220 days. For more information, see the Policy on Occurrence Classification.
TSB investigation process
There are 3 phases to a TSB investigation
- Field phase: a team of investigators examines the occurrence site and wreckage, interviews witnesses and collects pertinent information.
- Examination and analysis phase: the TSB reviews pertinent records, tests components of the wreckage in the lab, determines the sequence of events and identifies safety deficiencies. When safety deficiencies are suspected or confirmed, the TSB advises the appropriate authority without waiting until publication of the final report.
- Report phase: a confidential draft report is approved by the Board and sent to persons and corporations who are directly concerned by the report. They then have the opportunity to dispute or correct information they believe to be incorrect. The Board considers all representations before approving the final report, which is subsequently released to the public.
For more information, see our Investigation process page.
The TSB is an independent agency that investigates air, marine, pipeline, and rail transportation occurrences. Its sole aim is the advancement of transportation safety. It is not the function of the Board to assign fault or determine civil or criminal liability.