WHAT HAPPENED?
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* Outback Wrangler Netflix star Chris Wilson plunged to his death in a remote area of the Northern Territory while attached by rope to a helicopter in February 2022
*The Robinson R44 helicopter crashed in West Arnhem Land shortly after take off
* The chopper was owned and operated by co-star Matt Wright's company Helibrook
* Pilot Sebastian Robinson survived with lifelong injuries
* The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released a report into the crash on Wednesday
INSUFFICIENT FUEL
*The ATSB investigation found the chopper's engine stopped mid-flight and during the emergency landing, pilot Sebastian Robinson released the hooks and sling line
* The height of the release was probably above nine metres and "likely not survivable", ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell found
*The engine stopped likely due to fuel exhaustion because the vehicle was probably "not refuelled at a depot about three-quarters of the way between Darwin and the area"
*The investigation heard different accounts about whether the vehicle was refuelled or not but concluded it likely had not been
*The pilot was likely distracted by his "cognitively busy" environment, including the sling holding Mr Wilson below him
SLING HEIGHT
* The Civil Aviation Safety Authority had banned the use of slings at any height, but had granted Helibrook an exemption to conduct crocodile egg collecting
* CASA allowed Mr Wilson to be attached to the helicopter up to 100 feet
* CASA has since changed its protocols around sling height
MAINTENANCE ISSUES
* Defects in the chopper's engine likely affected its maximum power output and fuel consumption
* Helibrook had likely overrun the helicopter's maintenance, inspection and overhaul periods
* The helicopter's emergency locator transmitter had been removed from its mount, meaning it did not deploy automatically and delayed the response of emergency services
PILOT'S COCAINE USE
* Mr Robinson was found to have low levels of cocaine in his blood system, meaning he likely had taken the stimulant in the days prior to the crash, but not within the preceding 24 hours
* He would not have still been feeling the direct effects of cocaine but his exposure increased the likelihood of fatigue, depression and inattention
* However, there was insufficient evidence to determine whether these effects occurred and had a material affect on the crash
THE COURT PROCESS
* Wright, his pilot Michael Burbidge and police officer Neil Mellon were first on the scene
* The trio are mired in a court battle, charged with perverting the course of justice and destroying evidence
* Wright has said he "strenuously denies" the allegations.
Australian Associated Press
