Australia’s aviation authority has been unsuccessful in its attempt to be excused from a lawsuit filed by Danielle Wilson, the widow of Outback Wrangler star Chris “Willow” Wilson, regarding her husband’s tragic helicopter death in February 2022. The incident occurred while Mr Wilson was collecting crocodile eggs in a remote part of the Northern Territory, suspended from a helicopter owned by his co-star Matt Wright.
Following the tragedy, which claimed Wilson’s life, Ms Wilson took legal action in 2023 against Wright, his company Helibrook, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). She seeks damages for the loss of her husband’s income and personal grief.
In a recent court hearing, CASA contended that Ms Wilson’s claims were “frivolous” and that it should be removed from the case. Their argument centred around the idea that it was Helibrook’s failure to adhere to safety regulations that led to Mr Wilson’s death. The helicopter operator was only permitted to conduct crocodile egg collection under specific conditions, including staying less than five metres off the ground.
CASA’s representative, Russell McIlwaine SC, asserted that had Helibrook and the pilot complied with CASA’s guidelines, the accident could have been avoided. He emphasised that the regulator should not be held accountable for the fatal incident, as the operator violated prescribed safety protocols.
Conversely, Ms Wilson’s lawyer, David Lloyd SC, argued that CASA’s breach of its duty of care was a significant factor in her husband’s death. He claimed the authority failed to perform adequate risk assessments and supervise Helibrook’s compliance concerning the egg retrieval operation.
Lloyd stated emphatically that “Mr Wilson should never have been in the air,” and suggested that CASA bore responsibility for approving the dangerous activities carried out by the helicopter operator.
Justice Elizabeth Raper ruled that the claims against CASA were plausible and subsequently dismissed the authority’s application to be removed from the lawsuit. She also mandated that CASA cover the widow’s court costs.
Following the decision, Ms Wilson expressed her relief at the court’s recognition of an arguable case against CASA, reflecting on the immense tragedy she faced three years after losing her husband.
An investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau revealed that the helicopter’s engine failed mid-flight due to a lack of fuel. During the emergency landing, the pilot, Sebastian Robinson, released the hooks and sling carrying Wilson. It was later discovered that Robinson had not refuelled the aircraft as required and had traces of cocaine in his system at the time of the crash. Moreover, a former pilot and friend of Wilson, who was present post-accident, was later convicted for destroying the mobile phone belonging to the Netflix series star.