Current:Home > FinanceCrocodile egg hunter dangling from helicopter died after chopper ran out of fuel, investigation finds-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Crocodile egg hunter dangling from helicopter died after chopper ran out of fuel, investigation finds
View Date:2024-12-23 16:32:06
An Australian crocodile egg hunter was killed after the helicopter he was dangling from ran out of fuel mid-flight, accident investigators said this week.
The pilot of the Robinson R44 helicopter took cocaine in the days before the February 2022 accident, and likely failed to refuel as planned during the Northern Territory outing, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said in its final report.
The crocodile egg collector, "Outback Wrangler" television series personality Chris Wilson, had been attached to the helicopter from a 100-foot line when disaster struck, it said.
When the fuel ran out and the helicopter fell, "the pilot released the egg collector above a likely-survivable height, fatally injuring him," the safety authority said.
Soon after, the fatally injured egg collector was found on the ground, still wearing a harness and line, which had been disconnected from the aircraft, it said.
The pilot lay beside the helicopter with "serious injuries."
Investigators said the pilot had failed to notice the dropping fuel before the tank ran dry.
They found "the pilot's exposure to cocaine within the previous few days increased the likelihood of fatigue, depression and inattention, however there was insufficient evidence to determine whether these effects occurred."
Three people have since been charged in relation to the the incident, including the pilot and Netflix star Matt Wright, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Investigators also found that the operator was not using its safety management system to identify and manage operational hazards.
"As a result, the operator did not adequately address the risks inherent in conducting human sling operations, such as carriage of the egg collector above a survivable fall height," ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said in a statement, adding that the operator had a "history of non-compliance with regulatory requirements, maintenance standards and accurate record keeping."
The Northern Territory allows hunters to collect wild crocodile eggs to help manage populations, allowing them to be sold to farms that use the reptiles for their leather.
"Ultimately, this tragic accident highlights how the actions and decisions of pilots, operators and the regulator can all have a significant influence on aviation safety," Mitchell said.
- In:
- Australia
veryGood! (91)
Related
- Ben Affleck and His Son Samuel, 12, Enjoy a Rare Night Out Together
- RHOC Star Gina Kirschenheiter’s CaraGala Skincare Line Is One You’ll Actually Use
- Biden says debt ceiling deal 'very close.' Here's why it remains elusive
- Green energy gridlock
- Man killed by police in Minnesota was being sought in death of his pregnant wife
- In Jacobabad, One of the Hottest Cities on the Planet, a Heat Wave Is Pushing the Limits of Human Livability
- Why RHOA's Phaedra Parks Gave Son Ayden $150,000 for His 13th Birthday
- The Day of Two Noons (Classic)
- Kristin Cavallari's Ex Mark Estes Jokingly Proposed to This Love Island USA Star
- Inside Clean Energy: Recycling Solar Panels Is a Big Challenge, but Here’s Some Recent Progress
Ranking
- A pregnant woman sues for the right to an abortion in challenge to Kentucky’s near-total ban
- Companies are shedding office space — and it may be killing small businesses
- Warming Trends: Bill Nye’s New Focus on Climate Change, Bottled Water as a Social Lens and the Coming End of Blacktop
- A lot of offices are still empty — and it's becoming a major risk for the economy
- Suspect in deadly 2023 Atlanta shooting is deemed not competent to stand trial
- Amazon Prime Day Early Tech Deals: Save on Kindle, Fire Tablet, Ring Doorbell, Smart Televisions and More
- Too Hot to Work, Too Hot to Play
- What has been driving inflation? Economists' thinking may have changed
Recommendation
-
Caitlin Clark has one goal for her LPGA pro-am debut: Don't hit anyone with a golf ball
-
Here's what could happen in markets if the U.S. defaults. Hint: It won't be pretty
-
Fake viral images of an explosion at the Pentagon were probably created by AI
-
Biden’s Been in Office for More Than 500 Days. He Still Hasn’t Appointed a Top Official to Oversee Coal Mine Reclamation
-
Why Officials Believe a Missing Kayaker Faked His Own Death and Ran Off to Europe
-
Bachelor Nation's Jason Tartick Shares How He and Kaitlyn Bristowe Balance Privacy in the Public Eye
-
Dua Lipa's Birthday Message to Boyfriend Romain Gavras Will Have You Levitating
-
Why Jennifer Lopez Is Defending Her New Alcohol Brand