Outback Wrangler: Matt Wright and helicopter company face more charges after Chris Wilson died in helicopter crash
Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright and his helicopter company have been hit with new charges following the helicopter crash that killed Chris Wilson.
Wright and his company Helibrook Pty Ltd have each been charged with two counts of reckless conduct for allegedly breaching the Northern Territory's occupational health and safety laws.
The charges follow Mr Wilson's death on February 28, 2022, while hanging from a helicopter during a crocodile egg collection mission in the NT's West Arnhem Land.
Wright and Helibrook were charged by NT WorkSafe on Thursday morning 'for their failure to keep aircraft safe and allowing the aircraft to be used when it was unsafe'.
Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright (pictured leaving court in December) and his helicopter company have been hit with more charges following the helicopter crash that killed Chris Wilson
An NT WorkSafe spokesperson said an investigation “has revealed sufficient evidence to allege that Helibrook Pty Ltd and Mr Wright engaged in conduct intended to reduce the actual number of flying hours completed by the aircraft in the Helibrook fleet over a period of time.” have built up over a longer period of time, to falsify'.
“This … affected the regular inspection and replacement of the aircraft's life-limited components … endangering the health and safety of the pilots and passengers,” the spokesperson said.
Wright faces a maximum fine of $1.2 million or five years behind bars if found guilty, while Helibrook faces a maximum fine of $6 million.
The case will be heard in court on February 27.
Wright's company owned the helicopter used in the egg collection mission when Mr Wilson was killed.
Mr Wilson, 34, dangled from a sling 30 meters below the helicopter to collect the eggs and died in the crash, while pilot Seb Robinson suffered life-changing spinal injuries.
Chris 'Willow' Wilson died in February 2022 when the helicopter he was swinging from crashed
Wright immediately flew to the scene of the crash (pictured) with former off-duty police officer Neil Mellon and another helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge
Wright immediately flew to the scene with former off-duty police officer Neil Mellon and another helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge.
The three men were all later charged with perverting the course of justice and destroying evidence.
Wright will stand trial in the NT Supreme Court on one count of perverting the course of justice. A date has yet to be set.
A further six charges, including tampering with evidence and threatening pilot Robinson, have yet to be heard, although Wright denies all allegations of wrongdoing. He will appear in court on these charges in June.
Michael Burbidge and his wife Jade arrive at Darwin Local Court in December. He admitted destroying evidence at the crash site
Wright also faces a civil lawsuit filed by Wilson's widow, Danielle Wilson.
Mrs Wilson is suing Wright and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) over alleged “wrongful acts or omissions” that caused or contributed to her husband's death, according to Federal Court documents provided to AAP.
She is seeking costs, damages, interest, interest on costs and “such other order as the court deems appropriate” for the psychological harm caused by the conduct.
Burbidge and Mellon both pleaded guilty in December to destroying evidence related to Wilson's phone at the scene of the crash.
Burbidge will appear in court on February 29, while Mellon will appear on March 1.