[Peetwo]

Rationale for ATSB delays?? 

Via the Oz (thank you Wannabe...  ):

‘Complex and dynamic’: Outback Wrangler crash report delayed



The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has delayed the release of its final report into the fatal Northern Territory chopper crash that killed Outback Wrangler cast member Chris “Willow” Wilson as multiple investigations into the incident and its aftermath continue.

Almost 14 months after Wilson was killed during a crocodile-egg collecting mission in a remote part of West Arnhem Land, the ATSB has updated the anticipated completion date of its final report from June to September this year.

The national transport safety investigator told The Australian on Thursday that while it had originally planned to release its findings by the end of 2022, its deadline had been repeatedly pushed back as the investigation had been broadened and upgraded.

“During a recent regular management scoping review, it was determined that due to the complex nature of this investigation, the release of the final report is now anticipated for the third quarter of this year,” an ATSB spokesperson said. “By their nature ATSB investigations are complex and dynamic and it is common for investigation timeframes and scopes to be adjusted as evidence is analysed and further evidence is obtained as the investigation team develops its findings.”

The destroyed R44 Raven II, registered VH-IDW, was owned and operated by Netflix star Matt Wright’s company Helibrook which remains under investigation by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

The ATSB updated the investigation page on its website on the same day it released a damning report into a Broome helicopter crash that killed Wright’s friend and former business partner Troy Thomas and a 12-year-old girl.



Thomas, who was the pilot, and Amber Millar died when the 40-year-old’s R44 Raven I helicopter crashed just after takeoff from an industrial area north of Broome airport in July 2020. The report released last Wednesday detailed how the accident was caused by the tail rotor tearing free during a high-powered vertical takeoff.

The ATSB found that tourism stalwart Thomas was not legally authorised to fly the chopper, had previously demonstrated acts of noncompliance with multiple aviation safety regulations, and operated the crashed aircraft in a manner that increased the risk of damage on multiple occasions.

“There was also evidence that the pilot was willing to take, and expose others to, elevated risk,” the report said.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission records show Thomas and Wright were business partners from 2015 to 2018. They started Top End tourism venture Outback Floatplane Adventures together before Wright sold his share to Thomas in 2018 to prioritise his burgeoning television career as National Geographic’s Outback Wrangler.

Meanwhile, multiple agencies are all still scrutinising what happened before, during and after the crash that killed Wilson on February 28 last year.



Wright flew to the scene immediately after the crash with Darwin publican Mick Burns, who owns the crocodile-egg harvesting business, and former NT police officer Neil Mellon.

In August Mellon was charged with more than 30 offences including making a false statement, destruction of evidence and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

In September helicopter pilot Michael Burbidge – who was on the crocodile-egg collection mission and discovered the downed chopper before landing at the scene – was charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, attempt to pervert the course of justice, destruction of evidence and providing a false statement in a statutory declaration.

In November NT Police charged Wright with attempting to pervert the course of justice, destroying evidence, fabricating evidence, unlawfully entering a building, making a false declaration and interfering with witnesses. All three will return to the Darwin Local Court on May 31.

MTF...P2