Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 30; Flight Crew Total 1300; Flight Crew Type 800
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure; Human Factors; Airspace Structure; ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings
I was cleared for departure on Runway XX from ZZZ; on an IFR flight plan. I was given instructions for runway heading climbing up to 1600 feet; bases were being reported at 1000-1600 feet at the time by arriving and departing traffic; scattered layers; just after rain had passed through.Upon departure; a [helicopter] was right on my departure path; directly over the sand of the beach; and did not react or maneuver away from me. My assumption is that he did not see me. I had previously heard no calls from the traffic and Tower gave me no warning of traffic crossing my departure path. The Tower did tell me there was traffic on a 3.5 mile final to land on Runway XX; and they wanted me to have a no delay departure; they told that traffic to slow up as they had a Aircraft X departing Runway XX.On climb out; I was fighting down-drafts and working to gain altitude; I started receiving traffic alerts from my ADS-B and I quickly acquired the helicopter in my visual scan; I could see the color of the pilots shirt we were that close.My understanding (after reading their LOA) is that ATC has a LOA with this helicopter operator; and they should make required calls when crossing the departure/arrival path of Runway XX or Runway XY; they should also be 300-500 feet laterally from the coastline and 300 AGL in altitude. I notified the tower immediately of the conflict and told them that was too close. After some pause; the Tower contacted the helo pilot and asked what his altitude was; he said 300 feet; the Tower said 'that's what I thought' After that; I continued to monitor the Tower frequency as I departed and continued with Approach; the Tower gave the helicopter much more specific instructions as he continued his sightseeing flight with passengers.This was a close call; this area needs to be reexamined and the sightseeing operations need to be suspended or redirected around the approach/departure path of the ZZZ runway. Someone is going to get hurt if this does not change.
GA pilot reported an NMAC with a helicopter and the lack of information from ATC.