Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 20; Flight Crew Total 9000; Flight Crew Type 1500
Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Fatigue; Confusion; Distraction; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Procedure
Last night I flew the airplane across the border from ZZZZ to ZZZ to clear Customs on my way to ZZZ1. Customs held me for about 30 minutes. I was quite tired and stressed because this flight was scheduled very suddenly and I had to drive to ZZZZ to make the flight. By the time I was released from Customs; jumped in the airplane; started the engines; and tried to get my clearance to ZZZ1; ZZZ Tower was long closed. So I tried a phone call to TRACON first; but since ZZZ is so close to the border; my cell phone could not get the proper signal; between Mexico and U.S.; so the call did not go through. At that moment; I switched the ZZZ Tower frequency to see if I could get my clearance from TRACON with no success. So; I decided to taxi to the head of Runway XXR; and try it again there. No joy. I began to feel desperate. I tried again calling by phone and this time I made contact; but the call dropped in a second. I kept trying for about four times; until I finally could get my clearance.My 'void if not off by' time was about 8 minutes; so I rushed the flight plan into the FMS; and put Tower frequency again in Comm 1. I then made the call that I was taking off from ZZZ for a straight out departure. Nobody answered; so I began my take off run. I saw some lights down the runway but; from my perspective; looked beyond the runway. Only when I was about to rotate realized and almost froze to see what I think was a helicopter on the runway! I pulled hard on the yoke; since I could not stop the airplane on the ground without hitting the other aircraft. I tried to calm myself down as I was scared to death. I was surprised that I did not hear the helicopter on the Tower frequency. That is when I realized I had not put in the correct Tower frequency! My blood went to my feet and my heart was racing and I felt so bad and miserable to think I could have killed some innocent people along with myself just for that 'little' error. I still feel awful.From now on; I will double and triple check my frequencies; altitudes; headings and runway holding instructions. I assure you that I learned my lesson on how external factors as stress and fatigue can and will affect your judgment. I will do my best to prevent this from happening to me again. Just the thought of the terrible disaster I might have caused; makes me realize the importance of proper focus; concentration and compliance with SOP's; no matter how tired you are. Besides; I will try to fly with a copilot from now on. Another set of eyes and mind are better than one.
Pilot reported a near collision during departure after they announced their intentions on the wrong frequency. The Tower was closed at the time of the event.