The pilot of a Novant Health helicopter said he dropped his night vision goggles just before the helicopter went out of control and crashed north of Wilmington in February, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The three people on board survived the Feb. 24 crash, but had serious injuries, according to the investigation report.

According to the FAA and NTSB, AirLink 1, a Eurocopter EC-135 helicopter, departed Wilmington International Airport at 7:38 p.m., bound for Jacksonville's Albert J. Ellis Airport. The medical crew of three had just dropped off a patient before refueling.

Shortly after taking off and turning on autopilot at 7:45 p.m., the pilot’s night vision goggles fell off. The flight paramedic and nurse remember the paramedic offering to help out.

“He offered to help him put them back on. He could not remember what exactly the pilot said to him, but it was similar to, ‘I am going to just take them off because we are not taking another flight,’” NTSB investigators said.

Investigators said the pilot "pulled that over his head (or around the side) and opened the NVG storage bag and put the goggles and the battery pack along with the mount in the case. He could not remember if he zipped the case closed or not, but at some point, the goggle case rolled off his lap to the left and he reached for it. As he did, the helicopter pitched violently forward and started a descent."

NTSB investigators added the pilot tried to regain control, but remembers hitting trees. After that — standing next to the helicopter.

The flight paramedic, though, told investigators he remembered just what happened as the helicopter took a nosedive.

“He covered his face with his arms and remembered feeling every impact with the trees,” the report said. “He also remembered feeling them hit the ground and the dash coming down on his legs, and mud and water hitting him on the face and then everything stopped.““He covered his face with his arms and remembered feeling every impact with the trees,” the report said. “He also remembered feeling them hit the ground and the dash coming down on his legs, and mud and water hitting him on the face and then everything stopped.“

The flight paramedic and nurse remember the pilot telling them both “guys, hang on” moments before impact. The helicopter had landed on its side after hitting the ground. The paramedic was trapped in the wreckage, but his fellow crew members, along with two hunters and two members of the State Highway Patrol were able to pull him out. 

Both the paramedic and the pilot had a broken leg from the crash.

“The pilot had his cell phone on him at the time, and was able to make a call, and send a ping of where their present position was so they could be rescued,” the report said. 

As they were waiting, they asked the pilot what happened, to which he apologized, saying, “I dropped the NVG bag on the collective,” according to the report.

Related: Three taken to hospital after a medical helicopter crash near Wilmington

It was operated by Integra Aviation LLC, providing air medical services for Novant Health in North and South Carolina. The NTSB added everyone was wearing their seatbelt.

The February crash prompted a response from the Pender County Fire Marshal’s Office and multiple agencies. The multimillion-dollar helicopter was destroyed.