Northern Territory bush pilot, Michael Burbidge, has been charged with several offences, including destroying evidence, as part of an ongoing investigation into a helicopter crash earlier this year that killed Outback Wrangler star Chris "Willow" Wilson.
Northern Territory Police on Wednesday morning said a 44-year-old man had been taken into custody and was assisting detectives with their inquiries.
He has been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, destruction of evidence, providing a false statement in a statutory declaration, and attempt to pervert the course of justice.
He received bail and will appear in Darwin Local Court next month.
Mr Burbidge is the chief helicopter pilot and director of Remote Helicopters Australia, which manages a fleet of six choppers which offers charter flights, feral animal control and crocodile egg collecting, according to its website.
He has featured in several episodes of the television series, Outback Wrangler.
The crash happened in late February in remote West Arnhem Land, about 500km east of Darwin.
Mr Wilson was part of group said to be embarking on a crocodile egg hunting expedition before the helicopter crashed, which also seriously injured the 28-year-old pilot, Sebastian Robinson.
The 34-year-old crocodile wrangler and co-star of the National Geographic series was remembered as being "larger-than-life" and a one-of-a-kind personality during a memorial service at the Darwin Convention Centre in March.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau released its preliminary report into the crash in April, finding there were no defects likely to result in engine failure at the time.
Mr Wilson, who was attached to a sling, was found fatally injured about 40 metres from the main wreckage, according to the report.
The report found the crash happened shortly after the helicopter took off from a landing zone, and the wreckage was discovered about 90 minutes after the incident.
It said investigators found 250 millimetres of fuel in the helicopter's main fuel tank. The helicopter’s two fuel bladder tanks were intact however there was damage to the surrounding metal enclosure.
The ATSB said it was possible fuel had leaked into nearby creeks, as the fuel system was "compromised" in the accident.
“Fuel system components, refuelling practices and fuel quality will also be reviewed and examined, as well as relevant maintenance records, operational documentation and regulations," ATSB transport safety director Stuart Macleod said in a statement in April.
Last week, NT WorkSafe confirmed that prohibition notices for all helicopter companies which collected eggs via slings were still in place.
The prohibition notices were put in place after the February crash, after NT WorkSafe inspectors found the practice involved "a serious risk to health and safety".
