Narrative:

Small aircraft X taking off from smo airport, ATIS statement first officer's, layer moving in from the west. I asked for an early right turn (runway 21). This was approved -- other traffic landing and taking off. I was held at the end of runway 21 for about 10-15 min. I was told to taxi into position and hold. Also a helicopter was released down the runway as I held. When I was released I did a short field takeoff (due to fog bank) and an early right turn. The helicopter Y then turned to the northeast at about 800 ft. As I made my right turn he was in my flight path above me. I turned to the downwind about 500 ft until clear. The helicopter was above me and I was only about 200 ft over the hangars. This could have been a serious problem. I feel the tower should have made runway 21 departing to the west for IFR only when a fog bank from the ocean is rolling in.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA X HAD NMAC WITH HELI IN ATA. EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN. SEE AND AVOID CONCEPT.

Narrative: SMA X TAKING OFF FROM SMO ARPT, ATIS STATEMENT FO'S, LAYER MOVING IN FROM THE W. I ASKED FOR AN EARLY R TURN (RWY 21). THIS WAS APPROVED -- OTHER TFC LNDG AND TAKING OFF. I WAS HELD AT THE END OF RWY 21 FOR ABOUT 10-15 MIN. I WAS TOLD TO TAXI INTO POS AND HOLD. ALSO A HELI WAS RELEASED DOWN THE RWY AS I HELD. WHEN I WAS RELEASED I DID A SHORT FIELD TKOF (DUE TO FOG BANK) AND AN EARLY R TURN. THE HELI Y THEN TURNED TO THE NE AT ABOUT 800 FT. AS I MADE MY R TURN HE WAS IN MY FLT PATH ABOVE ME. I TURNED TO THE DOWNWIND ABOUT 500 FT UNTIL CLR. THE HELI WAS ABOVE ME AND I WAS ONLY ABOUT 200 FT OVER THE HANGARS. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I FEEL THE TWR SHOULD HAVE MADE RWY 21 DEPARTING TO THE W FOR IFR ONLY WHEN A FOG BANK FROM THE OCEAN IS ROLLING IN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.