MEDORA -- The investigation into Thursday's helicopter crash at the Theodore Roosevelt National Park's horse roundup near the South Unit north of Fryburg began today.
Air safety investigator Stephen Rauch with the Department of Interior Aviation Management Directorate and aviation operations and safety specialist Tom Monterastelli with the National Park Service arrived at the park headquarters in Medora Friday afternoon. Both men are stationed in Boise, Idaho.
The men were brought to the site of the accident where El Aero Service Pilot Ted McBride from Elko, Nev., and park wildlife biologist Mike Oehler went down only 10 feet or less above the ground after McBride had attempted to herd a small group of wild horses too close to corral fence posts.
Witnesses saw the helicopter spin and land on its left side near the fence with a rotor blade flying off into a nearby corral.
Both men escaped the incident with minor injuries, but were sent in ambulances to St. Joseph's Hospital and Health Center in Dickinson Thursday afternoon. They were later released.
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No other people or animals were hurt during the accident.
Since their release, park superintendent Valerie Naylor has spoken with both men.
"They are both doing well and Ted is still here, he hasn't gone back to Nevada," Naylor said. "He is being interviewed as part of the investigation."
The investigation of the crash is standard procedure for the Park Service and Department of Interior. The investigators interview all involved, including witnesses, and check out the accident site, Naylor said. This should all be done by Sunday, she added.
"They will write their report and then said something will be posted on the National Transportation Safety Board Web site within a week, but that won't be the full report," Naylor said.
Helicopters will continue to be used for future park roundups because they are "the most efficient and safest way to conduct roundups," she added.
The park's aviation management plan is recent and up-to-date, but any changes to it have not been discussed, Naylor said.
"We have a debriefing done after every roundup to talk about what could be done differently and what was done correctly," Naylor said. "Whenever there's an incident of any kind we will learn from it."
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The roundup was the first in four years for the park and was supposed to cull the approximately 125 wild horses to about 75. Right before the crash about 50 animals were penned.
These animals were released and there will not be an auction in Dickinson on Monday, Oct. 22, as originally planned.
