Sad detail reveals why Outback Wrangler chopper crash victim was allegedly doomed from the beginning

FEBRUARY 28, 2022

7:03 am Pilot Seb Robinson and egg collector Chris 'Willow' Wilson are in one of three Robinson R44 helicopters departing Noonamah for a crocodile egg collection operation in West Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, about 500km from Darwin. Each helicopter has one pilot and one egg collector. They fly 90 minutes to a barrel refueling site in the bush near Borradaile Mountain.

8:30 am Helicopters fly from the drum refueling area to the King River staging area, 20 minutes away. Mr Wilson is said to have shared a photo of the fuel gauge, showing it was almost full, to their shared WhatsApp group.

Around 9am The helicopters split up to go to their different egg collection areas. Two went 12 km to the northeast and collected eggs from nine nests between 9:11 and 10:14 a.m.

10:14 am The other two crews realize they haven't heard from Robinson and Wilson and chief helicopter pilot – and director of Remote Helicopters Australia – Michael Burbidge, 44, goes looking for them.

10:36 am It finds the wreckage of their helicopter, 30 km south of South Goulburn Island. Mr Wilson, 34, is dead 40 meters from the wreckage and Mr Robinson, 28, is seriously injured with back injuries on the ground next to the aircraft. Their helicopter collided with trees and terrain. The second helicopter takes off again briefly to make radio contact and raise the alarm.

Outback Wrangler Matt Wright reportedly flies to the scene of the accident with off-duty police sergeant Neil Mellon and Darwin publican and crocodile farmer Mick Burns. Mr Burns has not been charged with any offence.

The helicopter (photo) was found upright, but severely damaged. Nearby trees showed signs of damage from the rotors, but there was no fire on site

12:30 p.m A CareFlight helicopter arrives on scene and airlifts the pilot to Maningrida, where he is transferred by plane to Darwin.

APRIL 19, 2022: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is releasing their initial findings into the crash, with the full report expected in the first quarter of 2023. It finds the helicopter's engine stopped before it hit the ground. There was only 8 ounces of fuel in the fuel bladders, both of which were intact, but the report said fuel may have spilled into a nearby creek because the fuel system was damaged during the crash. There were no other obvious signs of mechanical failure and there was no fire at the scene.

AUGUST 25, 2022: Father-of-three Neil Mellon, 47, is arrested shortly after arriving at Darwin police station for work. Police raid his home and reportedly find illegal wildlife, fireworks and firearms.

AUGUST 26, 2022: Mellon is charged with 31 crimes, including attempting to pervert the course of justice and stealing and unlawfully accessing data. His charges also relate to weapons, firearms and wildlife crimes, as well as the alleged destruction of evidence in connection with a major accident investigation.

Later that same day, his wife Sandi, also a serving NT police officer, posted allegations on Facebook, unrelated to the crash, about a former close friend, which were later deleted.

Mellon has since resigned from the police force after 27 years of service.

SEPTEMBER 2022: Outback Wrangler and father-of-four Matt Wright, 43, is moving from Darwin to Queensland's Gold Coast with his pregnant wife Kaia.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022: Helicopter pilot Michael Burbridge – who was first on the scene of the tragedy – is facing charges in connection with the crash. He is charged with destroying evidence, conspiracy, attempting to pervert the course of justice and making a false statement.

NOVEMBER 28, 2022: NT Police issue an arrest warrant for Wright and he is ordered to report to Darwin police station within 48 hours to face at least six serious charges related to the crash. They cover his actions before and after the crash and allege he tampered with evidence.

NOVEMBER 29, 2022: Wright checks in for an 8.15am flight from Sydney to Darwin with his wife and their newborn daughter Dusty. He is charged in the afternoon with a series of offenses in connection with the helicopter crash.

NOVEMBER 30, 2022: Wright will appear in Darwin Court on seven charges relating to the crash, which he strongly denies, and will be granted bail until his next court appearance on January 25, 2023.

Wright is charged with attempted perverting the course of justice, destroying evidence, fabricating evidence, unlawfully entering a building, unlawfully entering a dwelling, making a false statement and obstructing witnesses in a criminal investigation or legal proceedings by issuing threats/retaliation.

NOVEMBER 22, 2023: The Air Transport Safety Bureau found the crash “probably” occurred when the helicopter ran out of fuel and Chris Wilson died from multiple injuries when the pilot released him from above a survival altitude while he dangled below the helicopter.

DECEMBER 7, 2023: Wright, Mellon and Burbidge will appear in court for a preliminary examination application in Darwin. If the application is unsuccessful, the trio will return to court on December 8 for a preliminary examination (about the papers). However, if the application is successful, a new hearing date will be set for a preliminary examination (oral), probably next year.