[Peetwo]

Popinjay's Croc-o-shite report: The systemic investigation that wasn't?? - 

Courtesy CH9 ACA:

Popinjay (from 02:35): "The helicopter was likely not refuelled..."

Plus via the ABC:

Celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright has been committed to stand trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

The charge is related to alleged events following a helicopter crash which killed his friend and television co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson in 2022.

Mr Wright, 44, was not present at the time of the crash and has strenuously denied all allegations.

Both Mr Wright and Mr Wilson starred in the National Geographic television series Outback Wrangler and Netflix show Wild Croc Territory.

Mr Wright appeared in the Darwin Local Court this morning for a brief committal hearing, where he was supported by his wife and legal team.

He faces a string of other charges, including fabricating and destroying evidence, which will be heard in the Darwin Local Court in June next year.

"I'm hopeful the remaining charges will all be withdrawn once this charge is dealt with next year," Mr Wright said in a statement.

In a brief hearing following Mr Wright's, helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge pleaded guilty to a charge of destroying evidence.

He was not piloting the helicopter that crashed.

Charges against Mr Burbidge of attempting to pervert the course of justice, fabricating evidence and making a false declaration were withdrawn.

Former NT Police officer Neil Mellon also pleaded guilty to a charge of destroying evidence, while his other charges — attempting to pervert the course of justice and making a false declaration – were withdrawn.

He will return to court in March for submissions and sentencing.

Separately, Mr Mellon faces 32 unrelated allegations including disclosing confidential information, unlawfully accessing data, obtaining benefit by deception and numerous weapons charges.

His separate matter will next be heard in the Darwin Local Court in February.

This week Mr Wilson's widow, Danielle Wilson, filed a separate civil suit against Mr Wright's company and Australia's aviation safety regulator over the fatal chopper crash.

An application filed with the Federal Court lists Helibrook and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) as respondents.

The ABC understands Ms Wilson seeks damages, interest, costs, interest on costs and other orders as the court sees fit.

"In a brief hearing following Mr Wright's, helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge pleaded guilty to a charge of destroying evidence.."

...Former NT Police officer Neil Mellon also pleaded guilty to a charge of destroying evidence, while his other charges — attempting to pervert the course of justice and making a false declaration – were withdrawn.

He will return to court in March for submissions and sentencing.

Separately, Mr Mellon faces 32 unrelated allegations including disclosing confidential information, unlawfully accessing data, obtaining benefit by deception and numerous weapons charges..."

Related posts from the UP:

Ascend Charlie

CASA-approved safety management system was not being used to systematically identify and manage operational hazards,”

What a surprise.

The ATSB also found that CASA delegates removed crucial conditions from crocodile egg collecting authorisations, making it more likely the sling person would be killed if the helicopter’s engine failed.

There will be some world-class ducking and weaving going on in CA$A.

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Cloudee

Originally Posted by Nescafe

Not a bad description for an operator that fudges maintenance, drains fuel from a crashed helicopter to divert blame and harasses a pilot in his hospital bed, allegedly.

Old mate was in court today. A couple of accomplices have pleaded guilty to destroying evidence from the crashed chopper. NT news today.

Michael Burbidge pleads guilty to destroying evidence after chopper crash that killed Chris Wilson

Prosecutor Steve Ledek asked that the details of the offending be suppressed to ‘preserve the state of the evidence’ against Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright in the Supreme Court.

Next from "X", I note that lawyer Peter Carter (from Carter Capner Law, Brisbane) was interviewed, on channel 7 'Sunrise', in regard to the Croc-o-shite legal wrangling:

Watch Peter Carter, director of Carter Capner Law on Sunrise talking about Outback Wrangler Matt Wright facing court over a series of charges involving the fatal helicopter crash that killed his Netflix co-star Chris Wilson.

#aviation #helicopter #accident #legal #lawyer

Note Carter's references to Chris Wilson's widow and her chances of success in suing CASA rather than the operator...

In what would be close to world record time for the ATSB to complete a systemic investigation, with all of this legal criminal and potential civil action, makes it even more 'passing strange' that the ATSB released the final report when they did??

This brings me to an earlier ABC article (13 Jan 2023) that timelines some more aberrations and disconnections with the Croc-o-shite cover-up investigation:

Australian Transport Safety Bureau upgrades investigation into NT helicopter crash that killed Chris 'Willow' Wilson



Key points:

• The ATSB originally anticipated the release of findings in late 2022
  
• Its investigation coincides with multiple court cases relating to the crash, including one involving celebrity crocodile wrangler Matt Wright
  
• Mr Wright "strenuously denies" any wrongdoing in relation to the crash
  

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Transport bureau upgrades investigation

The date of release for the ATSB report has been pushed back, the authority confirmed, due to the investigation being "upgraded to a systemic level investigation".

A systemic response is the ATSB's second highest level of investigation, topped only by a "major investigation" which would potentially involve a "large number of casualties".

An ATSB spokesman said the authority could not go into specifics on why the investigation had been upgraded as it was still ongoing, but said investigations were upgraded to systemic "when they are expanded to consider factors relating to organisations, processes, systems, cultures" and more.

A description on the ATSB's website said systemic investigations "have a broad scope and involve a significant effort collecting evidence across many areas".

"The breadth of the investigation will often cover multiple organisations," the description said.

"Occurrences and sets of transport safety occurrences investigated normally involve very complex systems and processes."

Hmm...wonder what?/who? made Popinjay upgrade the investigation nearly a year in?

Some key date info: in late 2022 Popinjay advised “before the end of the year”; Jan 2023 he extended and upgraded it to “before” April 2023, then released it late NOV 23.

Basically, Jan 2023 - Popinjay makes a 3 month extension, it’s actually released 11 months after based on his BS ‘systemic’ excuse for the delay. The outcome is a report that doesn’t analyse systemic issues.

Regardless, it appears that the AAI aspect is secondary to everything else, and is being manipulated for other needs - there’s a lot in this and it’s very ‘murky’??

Next, in reference to my previous post:  [/url]



Why did the rushed final report not include:  [url=https://auntypru.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=217&pid=14040#pid14040]Chalk & Cheese: S is for? - Surveillance. 

Meanwhile in WA, despite the many systemic issues including negligent CASA oversight, the Coroner has refused to open up a proper inquest into the tragic R44 accident in Broome that took the life of Amber Miller:

No coronial inquest into fatal Broome chopper crash in which a 12-year-old girl and the pilot died

Key points:

• A WA Coroner has decided not to hold an inquest into the death of Amber Jess Millar, who died in a helicopter accident in Broome in 2020
  
• The 12-year-old girl and pilot Troy Thomas were killed in an accident that shook the Kimberley town
  
• Jess' parents Clint and Fiona Benbow can appeal the decision but have declined to comment
  

   

Now watch the first 27:19 minutes of this Senate Estimates session:

MTF...P2