C172 pilot departing a non towered airport reported a NMAC with a helicopter departing a parallel taxiway.
Synopsis
C172 pilot departing a non towered airport reported a NMAC with a helicopter departing a parallel taxiway.
Narrative
During a personal flight for currency at my home base airport; ZZZ; I was flying the runway heading after a touch and go landing over the Runway XX center line. I was preparing for a crosswind turn as I was approaching 700 ft AGL; when I looked to my left and was very surprised to see a helicopter level or slightly above (probably 50 ft) from my altitude and it was over the parallel Taxiway 1. I called him on the CTAF twice and very quickly asked his intentions and received no response. As I was making a third call I announced I was breaking out to the right to gain immediate separation. At that time the pilot of the helicopter responded with the statement 'sorry'. I am not sure what his response was for i.e. he didn't have his radios set up properly or that he had failed to clear for traffic in the VFR pattern prior to his departure. It was unclear to me. I would say the lateral separation was 300 to 500 ft and I was essentially at the same vertical altitude. We were both climbing at the time. I am totally convinced had I not seen him prior to my left crosswind turn we would have had a mid air collision. If I had looked to the left 5-10 seconds later I would not have seen him due to my wing blocking the view.My ADS-B IN was inop due to my Appareo Stratus 3 portable receiver failing last week. It was returned to the vendor for repair. My ADS-B OUT was operable but I don't know if he saw me on his screen and I failed to ask him when we talked after the flight. He said he 'saw' me but I don't know if he meant visuals or on instruments. The helicopter had taken off from the FBO; and was flying his departure climb over Taxiway 1 to the North. There was another airplane that flew a visual straight to a full stop just before my touch and go. On my base leg I did not notice the helicopter's beacon when I scanned the airport for aircraft movements. The previous aircraft was already on the GA parking ramp. I saw no other aircraft moving. I contacted the helicopter pilot and the chief pilot to report the event.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.