Owners warned some choppers were unsafe before fatal Outback Wrangler crash

An aircraft engineer warned Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright and pilot Sebastian Robinson two helicopters were unsafe prior to the crash that killed Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.

The Northern Territory’s workplace safety watchdog has launched an investigation into the February chopper crash that killed Outback Wrangler member Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson and led to a decorated senior cop facing decades behind bars after being charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

An aircraft engineer warned Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright and pilot Sebastian Robinson that two of their helicopters were so unsafe one of them needed to be grounded “before something happens” prior to the fatal crash – involving another of their choppers – that killed their mate Chris “Willow” Wilson.

Coomalie Air chief engineer Geoff Morton emailed Mr Wright and Mr Robinson on January 30, 2020, alerting them that two of their Robinson R44 helicopters – registrations VH-XHB and VH-OAX – both needed to be “baselined and audited”.

“If there is an incident, the ultimate responsibility falls with the responsible owner of the aircraft, which is you guys,” he told them.

“Puts your AOC (Air Operator Certificate), Chief Pilot and HAAMC (Head of Aircraft Airworthiness and Maintenance Control) positions on the line.

“Let’s get this cleaned up before something happens.”

In the leaked email, obtained and verified by The Weekend Australian, Mr Morton prophetically told the men that they “really need to get on top of” the logbooks and technical records for the two choppers. Mr Wright owned the helicopter with registration VH-XHB and Mr Robinson owned the one with registration VH-OAX.

“If something happens we’ll all be in the shit,” Mr Morton wrote. “XHB and OAX both need to be baselined and audit carried out. OAX should be grounded as it has -5 main rotor blades fitted which were supposed to be replaced 9th Jan this year as per an AD (Airworthiness Directive). Wasn’t on MR (maintenance release).

“XHB dual hook installation still not yet certified correctly in logbook. Nil weight and balance, EO (Engineering Order) etc, etc.”

Soon after Mr Morton sent that email the business relationship between Coomalie Air and the two chopper owners was terminated.

Less than two years later, another Robinson R44 helicopter owned by Mr Wright and piloted by Mr Robinson – registration VH-IDW – crashed on a crocodile egg collection mission in the Northern Territory.

Wilson – a cast member of National Geographic’s reality television show Outback Wrangler – was killed when the chopper he was dangling from crashed on the King River in a remote part of West Arnhem Land.

He had been strapped into a harness attached to a 30m-long line to collect crocodile eggs when the chopper collided with terrain about 30km south of South Goulburn Island. The 34-year-old – who also features in Channel 9’s new series Matt Wright’s Wild Territory – left behind wife Danielle and their two young sons.

Remote Helicopters Australia director and chief pilot Michael Burbidge has been charged over the chopper crash that killed Outback Wrangler cast member Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.

Robinson was seriously injured in the crash but survived.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s preliminary report revealed that the R44 Raven II crashed shortly after the aircraft left its landing zone and that the chopper’s engine stopped before it hit the ground. The ATSB’s final report is expected to be released by the end of the year.

The aircraft, operated by Mr Wright’s company Helibrook, was also involved in a previous crash at Moruya Airport in NSW in 2009.

The Australian has previously revealed that Mr Wright, bush pilot Michael Burbidge, former senior police officer Neil Mellon and Darwin publican Mick Burns flew to the crash scene immediately after the chopper was discovered on February 28.

Mr Mellon and Mr Burbidge have since been charged with a litany of offences relating to the alleged fabrication and destruction of evidence following the crash.

Last week, Darwin Local Court was told that Mr Burbidge was in a “matrix” of people in an alleged conspiracy to destroy evidence.

Mr Mellon is facing dozens of criminal charges including conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He flew to the site and retrieved Wilson’s body, took photos and established the incident scene before authorities arrived.

The Australian revealed earlier this month that Wilson’s mobile phone was also missing from the crash site. It is understood someone removed it from the scene.

Mr Robinson said he was unable to comment due to the ongoing police investigation.

Police on Friday thanked members of the public who had provided footage and images of VH-IDW. “Information provided to date has assisted in the investigation and we renew the call for anyone that has footage or images of VH-IDW between 2020 and 2022,” police said.