Jemax,
Floats can be inflated with gear up or down on the AS332/EC225. Some will argue that gear down in the water may help with stability but I can't see it making a material difference.
I will be interested to see if the crew inflated the floats before hitting the water or if they were inflated by the automatic inflation system on contact with water.
Shame the tail boom broke off as it will have sunk and that is where the CVR/FDR is located. Hope the weather stays calm enough over the next few days to recover the aircraft and tailboom.
Best wishes to the crew who will be going through lengthy debriefings by all and sundry.