Today marked the start of this trial, occurring more than three years after the death of Wright’s friend and Outback Wrangler co-star Chris “Willow” Wilson in an outback helicopter crash, which also left pilot Sebastian Robinson paralyzed.
Wilson and Robinson were working for Wright as subcontractors to lawfully collect the eggs for sale to crocodile farms.
On the crash day, Wright was fully aware that investigations by aviation safety authorities and NT Police would ensue, potentially leading to charges, according to Gullaci.
The prosecution alleges that Wright attempted to mislead investigators, manipulated records, and avoided providing necessary documents when needed.
Wright was the chief pilot, CEO and head of flight operations at his company Helibrook, Gullaci said.
As the holder of an air operating certificate, he was obligated to adhere to all Australian civil aviation regulations and ensure the safety of air operations.
The crashed Robinson R44 helicopter had a flying-hour limit of 2200 hours, after which the operator had to decide whether to retire the aircraft or undergo an overhaul costing over $400,000.
The case concerns Wright’s engagement in practices to improperly document the hours flown, including evidence suggesting that a specific meter was intentionally disconnected to prevent recording, Gullaci stated.
“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 2200-hour limit ended up being 2640 hours flown and that affected the chopper’s airworthiness, Gullaci said.
