Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright has received the full brief of evidence in his case with NT WorkSafe after he was charged following a helicopter crash that killed his best mate.
Wright and his company Helibrook have been charged with failing to comply with their health and safety duties and reckless conduct risking death or injury.
The charges relate to the chopper crash that killed fellow reality television star Chris Wilson, 34, on February 28, 2022.
Mr Wilson was hanging from a helicopter on a crocodile egg collecting mission in the NT’s West Arnhem Land when it crashed and killed him on impact.
Wright’s case with NT Worksafe was mentioned at Darwin Local Court on Monday, where it was heard he’d received the brief of allegations against him.
Wright and Helibrook were hit with the charges by NT WorkSafe back in February morning ‘over their failures to maintain safe aircraft and allowing the aircraft to be operated when unsafe’.
A NT WorkSafe spokesperson said at the time an investigation ‘found sufficient evidence to allege Helibrook Pty Ltd and Wright engaged in conduct intended to falsify the actual number of flight hours accrued by the aircraft in the Helibrook fleet over an extended period of time’.
‘This … impacted the regular inspection and replacement of the aircraft’s life-limited components … therefore it is allegedplacing at risk the health and safety of the pilots and passengers,’ the spokesperson said.
Wright’s company owned the helicopter that was being used in the egg collecting mission when Mr Wilson was killed.
Mr Wilson had been dangling from a sling 30m under the chopper to collect the eggs and was killed in the crash while pilot Seb Robinson was left with life-changing spinal injuries.
Wright immediately flew to the scene. He will separately go to trial in the NT Supreme Court on one count of perverting the course of justice later this year.
Wright is meanwhile also facing a civil case, filed by Mr Wilson’s widow Danielle Wilson.
Ms Wilson is suing Wright and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for alleged ‘wrongful acts or omissions’ that caused or contributed to her husband’s death.
Judge Tanya Fong Lim adjourned Wright’s case with NT WorkSafe for a hearing on July 15.
Wright faces a maximum of five years behind bars and $1.2million in fines if found guilty while Helibrook could be slapped with a $6million fine.