DA20-A1 Katana
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Total 670
Communication Breakdown
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
I was doing touch and go landings in the traffic pattern.  At midfield right downwind for runway 13 I reported to tower and asked for a touch and go short approach.  He approved and said that there was a helicopter on a 2 mile final that would be terminating to the east.  He did not say I was to follow the helicopter; or that I was #2.  I understood this to mean that I would complete my landing ahead of the helicopter.  I never had or reported that I had the helicopter in sight.  After this instruction I immediately began my base turn for my short approach.  On final I got the helicopter in sight as he came from underneath me by approximately 500 feet and began his departure to the east.
DA20 instructor pilot reported an airborne conflict with a helicopter in the pattern at PVU.