Crash pilot denies flying high and failing to fuel up

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9 hours ago

A pilot seriously injured in a deadly crash while flying one of reality TV star Matt Wright's helicopters has admitted supplying cocaine but denies flying high or failing to fuel up.
Sebastian Robinson was left a paraplegic after the crash in February 2022 that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
Mr Robinson is giving evidence in the Supreme Court in Darwin at the trial of Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Prosecutors allege the TV star was worried crash investigators would discover flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified.
Mr Wilson fell to the ground from a sling beneath the chopper while collecting crocodile eggs in remote swampland.
The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson, who is giving evidence by video link from his wheelchair.
The 32-year-old has previously admitted using cocaine about twice a year before the crash.
But defence counsel David Edwardson KC on Thursday read out text messages police extracted from Mr Robinson's mobile phone, detailing regular exchanges with friends about supplying the drug.
The messages from November 2018 to August 2021 were from friends asking him if he was "getting more coke" or could he "get good stuff for Chrissy party" and did he have "some Charlie".
One message read "footy players in town and want bags", with Mr Edwardson asking Mr Robinson whether he had planned to supply them with cocaine.
Mr Robinson said he could not recall that message, adding he had never flown helicopters while high.
In response to Mr Edwardson's line of questioning, he said: "Are you implying that I'm a drug dealer? No."
In another exchange, Mr Robinson said he was "crook as a dog" with a friend texting back, "snorting too much coke out of Matty's arse".
Wright chuckled in the dock when the message was read out.
Mr Robinson has vigorously denied the helicopter crashed because it ran out of fuel.
The jury heard he told an NT Police investigator in 2022: "I can guarantee you I did not run out of fuel ... that's not what caused the accident, it was full from the croc farm."
Mr Edwardson submitted that if it was proved the aircraft ran out of fuel, Mr Robinson knew he would be "in the crosshairs", facing blame and charges over the crash and Mr Wilson's death.
"If you failed to fill up the aircraft and, as a consequence, it ran out of fuel and fell out of the sky, the buck would stop with you," the barrister said.
"That must have been a terrifying thought for you."
"Yes, it was a concerning thought," Mr Robinson replied.
"I just did not want to be blamed for running out of fuel when in my heart I know that didn't happen."
Mr Robinson, who was not a qualified flight instructor, agreed he had allowed Mr Wilson, a trainee pilot, to fly with him on helicopters fitted with dual controls despite that being illegal and Wright disallowing it.
Mr Wilson had flown the chopper on the day of the crash before Mr Robinson removed the dual controls and took over piloting for crocodile-egg collecting.
A photograph shown to the jury was a selfie taken by Mr Wilson of him flying the chopper on the day of the crash, with Mr Robinson apparently asleep next to him.
Mr Edwardson, who has previously labelled Mr Robinson a "party animal", said if he had "had a bender" he would have been happy for Mr Wilson to pilot the chopper while he slept in the passenger seat.
"That's an accusation," Mr Robinson replied.
The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries.
The trial continues.
A pilot seriously injured in a deadly crash while flying one of reality TV star Matt Wright's helicopters has admitted supplying cocaine but denies flying high or failing to fuel up.
Sebastian Robinson was left a paraplegic after the crash in February 2022 that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
Mr Robinson is giving evidence in the Supreme Court in Darwin at the trial of Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Prosecutors allege the TV star was worried crash investigators would discover flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified.
Mr Wilson fell to the ground from a sling beneath the chopper while collecting crocodile eggs in remote swampland.
The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson, who is giving evidence by video link from his wheelchair.
The 32-year-old has previously admitted using cocaine about twice a year before the crash.
But defence counsel David Edwardson KC on Thursday read out text messages police extracted from Mr Robinson's mobile phone, detailing regular exchanges with friends about supplying the drug.
The messages from November 2018 to August 2021 were from friends asking him if he was "getting more coke" or could he "get good stuff for Chrissy party" and did he have "some Charlie".
One message read "footy players in town and want bags", with Mr Edwardson asking Mr Robinson whether he had planned to supply them with cocaine.
Mr Robinson said he could not recall that message, adding he had never flown helicopters while high.
In response to Mr Edwardson's line of questioning, he said: "Are you implying that I'm a drug dealer? No."
In another exchange, Mr Robinson said he was "crook as a dog" with a friend texting back, "snorting too much coke out of Matty's arse".
Wright chuckled in the dock when the message was read out.
Mr Robinson has vigorously denied the helicopter crashed because it ran out of fuel.
The jury heard he told an NT Police investigator in 2022: "I can guarantee you I did not run out of fuel ... that's not what caused the accident, it was full from the croc farm."
Mr Edwardson submitted that if it was proved the aircraft ran out of fuel, Mr Robinson knew he would be "in the crosshairs", facing blame and charges over the crash and Mr Wilson's death.
"If you failed to fill up the aircraft and, as a consequence, it ran out of fuel and fell out of the sky, the buck would stop with you," the barrister said.
"That must have been a terrifying thought for you."
"Yes, it was a concerning thought," Mr Robinson replied.
"I just did not want to be blamed for running out of fuel when in my heart I know that didn't happen."
Mr Robinson, who was not a qualified flight instructor, agreed he had allowed Mr Wilson, a trainee pilot, to fly with him on helicopters fitted with dual controls despite that being illegal and Wright disallowing it.
Mr Wilson had flown the chopper on the day of the crash before Mr Robinson removed the dual controls and took over piloting for crocodile-egg collecting.
A photograph shown to the jury was a selfie taken by Mr Wilson of him flying the chopper on the day of the crash, with Mr Robinson apparently asleep next to him.
Mr Edwardson, who has previously labelled Mr Robinson a "party animal", said if he had "had a bender" he would have been happy for Mr Wilson to pilot the chopper while he slept in the passenger seat.
"That's an accusation," Mr Robinson replied.
The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries.
The trial continues.
A pilot seriously injured in a deadly crash while flying one of reality TV star Matt Wright's helicopters has admitted supplying cocaine but denies flying high or failing to fuel up.
Sebastian Robinson was left a paraplegic after the crash in February 2022 that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
Mr Robinson is giving evidence in the Supreme Court in Darwin at the trial of Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Prosecutors allege the TV star was worried crash investigators would discover flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified.
Mr Wilson fell to the ground from a sling beneath the chopper while collecting crocodile eggs in remote swampland.
The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson, who is giving evidence by video link from his wheelchair.
The 32-year-old has previously admitted using cocaine about twice a year before the crash.
But defence counsel David Edwardson KC on Thursday read out text messages police extracted from Mr Robinson's mobile phone, detailing regular exchanges with friends about supplying the drug.
The messages from November 2018 to August 2021 were from friends asking him if he was "getting more coke" or could he "get good stuff for Chrissy party" and did he have "some Charlie".
One message read "footy players in town and want bags", with Mr Edwardson asking Mr Robinson whether he had planned to supply them with cocaine.
Mr Robinson said he could not recall that message, adding he had never flown helicopters while high.
In response to Mr Edwardson's line of questioning, he said: "Are you implying that I'm a drug dealer? No."
In another exchange, Mr Robinson said he was "crook as a dog" with a friend texting back, "snorting too much coke out of Matty's arse".
Wright chuckled in the dock when the message was read out.
Mr Robinson has vigorously denied the helicopter crashed because it ran out of fuel.
The jury heard he told an NT Police investigator in 2022: "I can guarantee you I did not run out of fuel ... that's not what caused the accident, it was full from the croc farm."
Mr Edwardson submitted that if it was proved the aircraft ran out of fuel, Mr Robinson knew he would be "in the crosshairs", facing blame and charges over the crash and Mr Wilson's death.
"If you failed to fill up the aircraft and, as a consequence, it ran out of fuel and fell out of the sky, the buck would stop with you," the barrister said.
"That must have been a terrifying thought for you."
"Yes, it was a concerning thought," Mr Robinson replied.
"I just did not want to be blamed for running out of fuel when in my heart I know that didn't happen."
Mr Robinson, who was not a qualified flight instructor, agreed he had allowed Mr Wilson, a trainee pilot, to fly with him on helicopters fitted with dual controls despite that being illegal and Wright disallowing it.
Mr Wilson had flown the chopper on the day of the crash before Mr Robinson removed the dual controls and took over piloting for crocodile-egg collecting.
A photograph shown to the jury was a selfie taken by Mr Wilson of him flying the chopper on the day of the crash, with Mr Robinson apparently asleep next to him.
Mr Edwardson, who has previously labelled Mr Robinson a "party animal", said if he had "had a bender" he would have been happy for Mr Wilson to pilot the chopper while he slept in the passenger seat.
"That's an accusation," Mr Robinson replied.
The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries.
The trial continues.
A pilot seriously injured in a deadly crash while flying one of reality TV star Matt Wright's helicopters has admitted supplying cocaine but denies flying high or failing to fuel up.
Sebastian Robinson was left a paraplegic after the crash in February 2022 that killed Outback Wrangler co-star Chris "Willow" Wilson in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory.
Mr Robinson is giving evidence in the Supreme Court in Darwin at the trial of Wright, who has pleaded not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Prosecutors allege the TV star was worried crash investigators would discover flight-time meters were disconnected regularly to extend flying hours beyond official thresholds and paperwork was falsified.
Mr Wilson fell to the ground from a sling beneath the chopper while collecting crocodile eggs in remote swampland.
The aircraft then crashed, seriously injuring Mr Robinson, who is giving evidence by video link from his wheelchair.
The 32-year-old has previously admitted using cocaine about twice a year before the crash.
But defence counsel David Edwardson KC on Thursday read out text messages police extracted from Mr Robinson's mobile phone, detailing regular exchanges with friends about supplying the drug.
The messages from November 2018 to August 2021 were from friends asking him if he was "getting more coke" or could he "get good stuff for Chrissy party" and did he have "some Charlie".
One message read "footy players in town and want bags", with Mr Edwardson asking Mr Robinson whether he had planned to supply them with cocaine.
Mr Robinson said he could not recall that message, adding he had never flown helicopters while high.
In response to Mr Edwardson's line of questioning, he said: "Are you implying that I'm a drug dealer? No."
In another exchange, Mr Robinson said he was "crook as a dog" with a friend texting back, "snorting too much coke out of Matty's arse".
Wright chuckled in the dock when the message was read out.
Mr Robinson has vigorously denied the helicopter crashed because it ran out of fuel.
The jury heard he told an NT Police investigator in 2022: "I can guarantee you I did not run out of fuel ... that's not what caused the accident, it was full from the croc farm."
Mr Edwardson submitted that if it was proved the aircraft ran out of fuel, Mr Robinson knew he would be "in the crosshairs", facing blame and charges over the crash and Mr Wilson's death.
"If you failed to fill up the aircraft and, as a consequence, it ran out of fuel and fell out of the sky, the buck would stop with you," the barrister said.
"That must have been a terrifying thought for you."
"Yes, it was a concerning thought," Mr Robinson replied.
"I just did not want to be blamed for running out of fuel when in my heart I know that didn't happen."
Mr Robinson, who was not a qualified flight instructor, agreed he had allowed Mr Wilson, a trainee pilot, to fly with him on helicopters fitted with dual controls despite that being illegal and Wright disallowing it.
Mr Wilson had flown the chopper on the day of the crash before Mr Robinson removed the dual controls and took over piloting for crocodile-egg collecting.
A photograph shown to the jury was a selfie taken by Mr Wilson of him flying the chopper on the day of the crash, with Mr Robinson apparently asleep next to him.
Mr Edwardson, who has previously labelled Mr Robinson a "party animal", said if he had "had a bender" he would have been happy for Mr Wilson to pilot the chopper while he slept in the passenger seat.
"That's an accusation," Mr Robinson replied.
The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash, Mr Wilson's death or Mr Robinson's injuries.
The trial continues.