Robinson R22
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 6300; Flight Crew Type 5
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion
Conflict NMAC; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
After departing from ZZZ Heliport; directly adjacent to the west ramp area of SNA; a southwesterly departure and climb was commenced; paralleling Runway 20R. We initiated a right turn at the southern perimeter of the airfield to follow the freeway northwest. While executing the turn; John Wayne Tower advised us of traffic at 12 o'clock; 900 ft.; on right downwind for SNA. We leveled at 600 ft. and searched for traffic. I noted a distant aircraft that appeared northbound at that approximate altitude and advised the traffic in sight. A few moments later; my Instructor observed a very close proximity aircraft approaching from about the 9:30 to 10:00 position at our exact altitude. My Instructor took the controls and aggressively maneuvered to pass behind and slightly above the aircraft.Our right turn resulted in looking for the traffic at our new 12 o'clock orientation; rather than prior to the turn; where the Tower report referred to. Seeing another aircraft in our 'new' 12 o'clock position lowered our immediate vigilance for proximate traffic in a different quadrant. Additionally; the inbound aircraft was flying a non-standard altitude of 600 ft.; rather than the prescribed 1000 ft. TPA. This resulted in increased risk of conflict with low-altitude departing traffic.
Helicopter pilot reported an NMAC with an aircraft that was inbound to the airport.