Outback Wrangler: Matt Wright and helicopter company hit with more charges after Chris Wilson was killed in chopper crash

Wright charged by NT WorkSafeHe allegedly breached work health and safety lawsREAD MORE: Who's who in Outback Wrangler case 

Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright and his helicopter company have been hit with fresh charges arising from the chopper crash that killed Chris Wilson.

Wright and his business Helibrook Pty Ltd have each been charged with two counts of reckless conduct for allegedly breaching the Northern Territory’s work health and safety laws.

The charges come after the death of Mr Wilson on February 28, 2022, when he was hanging from a helicopter on a crocodile egg collecting mission in the NT’s West Arnhem Land.

Wright and Helibrook were hit with the charges by NT WorkSafe on Thursday morning ‘over their failures to maintain safe aircraft and allowing the aircraft to be operated when unsafe’.

Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright (pictured leaving court in December) and his helicopter company have been hit with more charges following the chopper crash that killed Chris Wilson

A NT WorkSafe spokesperson said an investigation ‘found sufficient evidence to allege Helibrook Pty Ltd and Mr 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 placing at risk the health and safety of the pilots and passengers,’ the spokesperson said.

Wright faces a maximum penalty of $1.2million or five years behind bars if found guilty, while Helibrook could receive a maximum $6million penalty.

The matter will be heard in court on February 27.

Wright’s company owned the helicopter that was being used in the egg collecting mission when Mr Wilson was killed.

Mr Wilson, 34, 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.

Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson died in February, 2022 when the helicopter he was slinging from crashed

Wright immediately flew to the scene of the crash (pictured) with former off-duty policeman Neil Mellon and another helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge

Wright immediately flew to the scene with former off-duty policeman 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 go to trial in the NT Supreme Court on one count of perverting the course of justice. A date is yet to be set.

Another six charges, which include tampering with evidence and threatening pilot Mr Robinson, are yet to be heard though Wright denies any allegations of wrongdoing. He will appear in court for those charges in June.

Michael Burbidge and his wife Jade are seen arriving at Darwin Local Court in December. He admitted to destroying evidence at the crash site

Wright is 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, Federal Court documents provided to AAP have revealed.

She is seeking costs, damages, interest, interest on costs, and ‘such other order as the court sees fit’ for the psychological harm caused by the conduct.

Burbidge and Mellon both pleaded guilty in December to destroying evidence in relation to Mr Wilson’s phone at the scene of the crash.

Burbidge will front court on February 29 while Mellon will appear on March 1.