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NT WorkSafe said while there is insufficient evidence to lay charges over the crash “at this point in time”, it charged Wright and his helicopter company Helibrook with breaches of work health and safety laws.
It alleges Wright and Helibrook failed to maintain safe aircraft and allowed the aircraft to be flown even though they were unsafe.
“NT WorkSafe’s investigation has found sufficient evidence to allege Helibrook Pty Ltd and Mr Wright engaged in conduct intended to falsify the actual number of flight hours accrued by the aircraft in the Helibrook fleet over an extended period of time,” it said in a statement this afternoon.
“This included interfering with the Hobbs Meters, which records the time an aircraft is in use, (and) not accurately recording flight times in the aircraft’s maintenance release, a key document to the safe operation of an aircraft.
“NT WorkSafe alleges this conduct would have impacted the regular inspection and replacement of the aircraft’s life-limited components that may have been critical to the airworthiness of the aircraft, therefore placing at risk the health and safety of the pilots and passengers each time aircraft from the Helibrook fleet was used.”
Both Wright and Helibrook have been charged with two counts of reckless conduct for failing their duties under the Work Health and Safety Act.
It also found the helicopter operator wasn’t using its safety management system while Wilson was being carried 20 metres above ground on the slingline, and that it had a “history of non-compliance with regulatory requirements”.
Wright is one of three men who were charged over what prosecutors allege was an attempt to derail an investigation into the crash.
He has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the matter.
