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Reality TV star Matt Wright tried to cover up previous rule-breaking after Outback Wrangler helicopter crash, court told Reality TV star Matt Wright tried to cover up previous rule-breaking after Outback Wrangler helicopter crash, court told
(32 minutes later)
Crown argues Wright did not properly record helicopter flying hours and was concerned that crash investigations would uncover thatCrown argues Wright did not properly record helicopter flying hours and was concerned that crash investigations would uncover that
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The reality TV star Matt Wright “played around” with the dashboard of a helicopter after a fatal crash and falsely reported its fuel tank level, a jury has heardThe reality TV star Matt Wright “played around” with the dashboard of a helicopter after a fatal crash and falsely reported its fuel tank level, a jury has heard
The Outback Wrangler star’s trial began on Wednesday, more than three years after Wright’s mate and Outback Wrangler co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson died in the outback chopper crash that left pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic. The Outback Wrangler star’s trial began on Wednesday, more than three years after Wright’s mate and Outback Wrangler co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson died in the outback helicopter crash that left pilot Sebastian Robinson a paraplegic.
Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice after the February 2022 incident in the Northern Territory.Wright has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice after the February 2022 incident in the Northern Territory.
After many delays the trial finally got under way in the supreme court in Darwin with crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC outlining his case to the jury.After many delays the trial finally got under way in the supreme court in Darwin with crown prosecutor Jason Gullaci SC outlining his case to the jury.
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None of the charges related to the cause of the crash and the crown was not alleging that Wright was responsible for it, the death of Wilson or Robinson’s injuries, Gullaci said.None of the charges related to the cause of the crash and the crown was not alleging that Wright was responsible for it, the death of Wilson or Robinson’s injuries, Gullaci said.
He said the crown case was that Wright did not properly record helicopter flying hours and was concerned that crash investigations would uncover that, leading to charges against him and his companies.He said the crown case was that Wright did not properly record helicopter flying hours and was concerned that crash investigations would uncover that, leading to charges against him and his companies.
The jurors were told that part of the evidence put before them would be covertly recorded conversations of Wright and others at his home and on his phone, using secret listening devices.The jurors were told that part of the evidence put before them would be covertly recorded conversations of Wright and others at his home and on his phone, using secret listening devices.
Wilson died doing something “incredibly brave”, dangling from a helicopter to collect crocodile eggs along the King River in Arnhem Land, Gullaci said.Wilson died doing something “incredibly brave”, dangling from a helicopter to collect crocodile eggs along the King River in Arnhem Land, Gullaci said.
Wilson and Robinson were working for Wright as subcontractors to lawfully collect the eggs for sale to crocodile farms.Wilson and Robinson were working for Wright as subcontractors to lawfully collect the eggs for sale to crocodile farms.
On the day of the crash Wright was fully aware there would be investigations by aviation safety authorities and NT police, leading to possible charges, Gullaci said.On the day of the crash Wright was fully aware there would be investigations by aviation safety authorities and NT police, leading to possible charges, Gullaci said.
Wright was the chief pilot, chief executive and head of flight operations at his company Helibrook, Gullaci said.Wright was the chief pilot, chief executive and head of flight operations at his company Helibrook, Gullaci said.
As holder of an air operating certificate he was required to abide by all Australian civil aviation regulations and had a duty to ensure safe air operations.As holder of an air operating certificate he was required to abide by all Australian civil aviation regulations and had a duty to ensure safe air operations.
The Robinson R44 helicopter involved in the crash had a maximum flying-hour threshold of 2,200 hours, at which time an operator had to decide to retire the aircraft or give it an overhaul costing more than $400,000.The Robinson R44 helicopter involved in the crash had a maximum flying-hour threshold of 2,200 hours, at which time an operator had to decide to retire the aircraft or give it an overhaul costing more than $400,000.
The case was about Wright engaging in practices to not properly record the number of hours, including evidence that a particular meter was deliberately disconnected so it wouldn’t record hours, Gullaci said.The case was about Wright engaging in practices to not properly record the number of hours, including evidence that a particular meter was deliberately disconnected so it wouldn’t record hours, Gullaci said.
“If you don’t properly record service hours you put off the maintenance and service requirements. It’s a way of extending the life of the aircraft.”“If you don’t properly record service hours you put off the maintenance and service requirements. It’s a way of extending the life of the aircraft.”
That meant the 2,200-hour limit could be passed by hundreds of hours and that affected airworthiness, Gullaci said.That meant the 2,200-hour limit could be passed by hundreds of hours and that affected airworthiness, Gullaci said.
The prosecution case was that Wright was aware his pilots routinely disconnected Hobbs meters and did not accurately record their flying hours in logbooks to make sure the meters and logbooks matched.The prosecution case was that Wright was aware his pilots routinely disconnected Hobbs meters and did not accurately record their flying hours in logbooks to make sure the meters and logbooks matched.
The jury was told they would hear covertly recorded conversations between Wright and his wife, Kaia, in which he said: “I don’t write shit down … I will be guilty of not keeping my paperwork up to speed.”The jury was told they would hear covertly recorded conversations between Wright and his wife, Kaia, in which he said: “I don’t write shit down … I will be guilty of not keeping my paperwork up to speed.”
They would also hear from pilots that Wright regularly asked them not to record flying hours in their logbooks.They would also hear from pilots that Wright regularly asked them not to record flying hours in their logbooks.
Investigations concluded the crashed helicopter was likely over its 2,200 hours and its Hobbs meter was not working, Gullaci said.Investigations concluded the crashed helicopter was likely over its 2,200 hours and its Hobbs meter was not working, Gullaci said.
“The rules are it shouldn’t have been flying.”“The rules are it shouldn’t have been flying.”
Wright immediately choppered to the crash site on the day and “played around with the dash” and the crown alleged he was trying to see if the Hobbs meter was disconnected, Gullaci said. Wright immediately helicoptered to the crash site on the day and “played around with the dash” and the crown alleged he was trying to see if the Hobbs meter was disconnected, Gullaci said.
“From the outset he attempts to cover up previous rule-breaking.”“From the outset he attempts to cover up previous rule-breaking.”
Wright said in a statutory declaration to police he had seen about half a tank of fuel in the crashed chopper. Wright said in a statutory declaration to police he had seen about half a tank of fuel in the crashed helicopter.
But covert recording of Wright showed he did not believe that, saying on the phone, “I didn’t see any fucking fuel in the tank – zero”, Gullaci told the jury.But covert recording of Wright showed he did not believe that, saying on the phone, “I didn’t see any fucking fuel in the tank – zero”, Gullaci told the jury.
Wright made the statutory declaration with intent to obstruct investigations and avoid suggestions the aircraft operated without adequate fuel or there was a fuel line problem, the prosecutor said.Wright made the statutory declaration with intent to obstruct investigations and avoid suggestions the aircraft operated without adequate fuel or there was a fuel line problem, the prosecutor said.