Pilot Michael Burbidge gives evidence at Outback Wrangler Matt Wright trial
Outback Wrangler Matt Wright pleaded not guilty to three allegations of attempting to pervert the course of justice following the death of his mate, Chris 'Willow' Wilson during a crocodile egg collecting mission on February 28, 2022.
Over the past three days of Supreme Court evidence it has been alleged Mr Wright conspired to cover up a 'pattern' of dodgy records, where it is alleged he underreported flight hours to avoid costly maintenance requirements.
On Friday, the jury heard the man who destroyed the dead man's phone hours after the crash warned the reality television star: 'You need to find out who's f--king said it so you know who to trust or who not to trust'.
Remote Helicopter Australia pilot Michael Burbidge was the first on the scene of the crash, after getting worried about the radio silence from the other chopper team.
He said it took up to 18 minutes to discover the horrific scene, finding his friend dead and his 28-year-old pilot Sebastian Robinson in need of urgent medical attention
Outback Wrangler Matt Wright arrives at the NT Supreme Court in Darwin with his wife Kaia Wright and defence senior counsel David Edwardson KC on Friday, August 8. Picture: Zizi Averill
Struggling to get reception in the remote paperbark swamp, Mr Burbidge told the court the wait for help 'felt like forever'.
Mr Burbidge said as soon as the CareFlight helicopter left with Mr Robinson, Mr Wright landed with Mr Burns and off-duty senior NT Police officer Neil Mellon.
He said he did not remember checking the fuel tank, saying 'I was pretty cooked by then'.
Mr Burbidge said he removed a jerry can from the helicopter, while Mr Mellon removed Mr Wilson's pistol and phone.
He said he told the cop Mr Wilson's wife Dani 'doesn't need to see what's on the phone'.
Croc egg collector Chris Wilson was killed, while his pilot Sebastian Robinson was critically injured in a helicopter crash on the King River, West Arnhem on February 28.
Mr Burbidge said he 'got rid' of his dead friend's phone while on the flight home with Mr Mellon, stating: 'I piffed it somewhere on the way home'.
He maintained Mr Wright was not involved in the decision to destroy the phone telling the court: 'I did it all on my own'.
The jury heard a bugged telephone call between Mr Wright and Mr Burbidge on August 9, 2022, where the pilot allegedly warned the television star the crashed chopper's log books were known to be inaccurate.
'I don't know, mate, I just got it from a f--king good source that f--king someone at the engineers were f--king — when it's come in and the clock's been off, or they said the clock's been off, they've written it in the log book,' he said.
'You need to find out who's f--king said it so you know who to trust or who not to trust.'
Chris 'Willow' Wilson's widow, Dani Wilson arrives for the trial of Outback Wrangler Matt Wright at the NT Supreme Court in Darwin on Friday, August 8. Picture: Zizi Averill
Mr Burbidge denied this was a warning to his mate that Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators were tipped off to Mr Wright's practice of disconnecting the flight hour recording device, the Hobbs meter.
He said he was concerned the crashed chopper's records may have been manipulated, denying there was any 'criminal intent' to this call with a friend.
'If someone is tampering with your log books you need to know — that's what the phone call was about,' he said.
The jury has previously heard in a bugged conversation months later, Mr Wright allegedly suggested the crashed chopper's maintenance release be destroyed.
'Just torch it, I don't know where it is' and 'just burn the c--t', he allegedly said.
Remote Helicopters Australia director and pilot Michael Burbidge arrives with his wife Jade Burbidge for the trial of Outback Wrangler Matt Wright at the NT Supreme Court in Darwin on Friday, August 8. Picture: Zizi Averill
Speaking generally, Mr Burbidge conceded it was 'common knowledge' some pilots would disconnect the Hobbs meter, but said Territorians 'get a bad rap' for the practice.
Former employee of Mr Wright, Timothy Luck said he had been in many choppers with a disconnected Hobbs meters, saying he had previously witnessed Mr Robinson disconnect the device.
Under intense cross-examination, Mr Luck said he was 'very confident' he filled Mr Wilson and Mr Robinson's chopper fuel tanks to the brim at a refuelling stop at Mt Borradaile, just 20 minutes before the crash.
Mr Luck said he even 'overfilled the machine' causing it to 'spill down the side', saying 'those two boys gave me a bit of stick about it'.
The trial continues on Monday.
Zizi Averill
Journalist
Zizi Averill is the police and crime reporter for the NT News, based up in Darwin. She previously worked as a journalist in Bendigo, Victoria and Mackay, Queensland.
@ZiziAverill
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