Narrative:

At about XA30 at rhv, I was cleared for takeoff on runway 31L for a right turnout departure. At about 600 ft and less than 1 mi from the airport, I saw something at my 10 O'clock position. Shocked by what I saw, I stared for a moment or two until I realized it was something coming right at us. I initiated a sharp turn to the left just in time to see the tail rotor from a helicopter go across our windshield. I believe that we were within about 15 ft from the aircraft, and slightly lower, maybe a foot or two. I believe that had I not taken action, we would have collided. A couple days later, I found out that the helicopter had originated from a hospital north of the airport, and had failed to call the tower until it had reached 900 ft, which was after it had passed me. I failed to report the incident to the tower due to shock of the close call I had. I just wanted to get to a safe altitude far away from there. I am reporting this because, from what I have heard, this is not the first time the helicopters have failed to follow procedure, and I am afraid the next time they do this, it may be fatal for all involved. Rhv tower needs to make the medical flts aware of the class D communication requirements. Calling the tower at 900 ft MSL is way too late!

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 INVOLVED IN NMAC WITH EMS HELI IN VICINITY OF RHV ARPT.

Narrative: AT ABOUT XA30 AT RHV, I WAS CLRED FOR TKOF ON RWY 31L FOR A R TURNOUT DEP. AT ABOUT 600 FT AND LESS THAN 1 MI FROM THE ARPT, I SAW SOMETHING AT MY 10 O'CLOCK POS. SHOCKED BY WHAT I SAW, I STARED FOR A MOMENT OR TWO UNTIL I REALIZED IT WAS SOMETHING COMING RIGHT AT US. I INITIATED A SHARP TURN TO THE L JUST IN TIME TO SEE THE TAIL ROTOR FROM A HELI GO ACROSS OUR WINDSHIELD. I BELIEVE THAT WE WERE WITHIN ABOUT 15 FT FROM THE ACFT, AND SLIGHTLY LOWER, MAYBE A FOOT OR TWO. I BELIEVE THAT HAD I NOT TAKEN ACTION, WE WOULD HAVE COLLIDED. A COUPLE DAYS LATER, I FOUND OUT THAT THE HELI HAD ORIGINATED FROM A HOSPITAL N OF THE ARPT, AND HAD FAILED TO CALL THE TWR UNTIL IT HAD REACHED 900 FT, WHICH WAS AFTER IT HAD PASSED ME. I FAILED TO RPT THE INCIDENT TO THE TWR DUE TO SHOCK OF THE CLOSE CALL I HAD. I JUST WANTED TO GET TO A SAFE ALT FAR AWAY FROM THERE. I AM RPTING THIS BECAUSE, FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE HELIS HAVE FAILED TO FOLLOW PROC, AND I AM AFRAID THE NEXT TIME THEY DO THIS, IT MAY BE FATAL FOR ALL INVOLVED. RHV TWR NEEDS TO MAKE THE MEDICAL FLTS AWARE OF THE CLASS D COM REQUIREMENTS. CALLING THE TWR AT 900 FT MSL IS WAY TOO LATE!

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.