SA-227 AC Metro III
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 3400; Flight Crew Type 650
Situational Awareness
Conflict NMAC
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport; Procedure; Human Factors
After getting a departure clearance from Potomac Approach we were cleared to 4;000 FT and runway heading. We announced our intention to takeoff from Runway 27 on HGR CTAF. It was my co-pilot's takeoff. As he pushed the power levers forward for our takeoff; I heard a helicopter announce that he was going to depart from the FBO ramp to the northwest. I looked up to see the helicopter's lights ahead and to our right; and I took a quick glance at my HSI to ensure that there would be no conflict with us. There should not have been as the FBO is on the north side of the field; and he announced that he was departing to the northwest and we were taking off from Runway 27. As we were rotating I saw the helicopter lift off moving right to left over the runway heading south. At this point I took control of the airplane; turned right while entering a maximum performance climb and called for gear up in an effort to go-around and climb above the helicopter. The while continuing the maximum performance climb; I turned left to parallel the runway to avoid the control Tower that I knew was on my right and then I saw the helicopter turning to his left; back toward us presumably to head northwest. As we passed each other he was pointed to the north and facing me. We were pointed west and he was just below and on our left side. From where we continued our climb to 4;000 FT and contacted Potomac Approach. At this point I gave control and Comm 1 to my co-pilot to see if I could contact the helicopter on HGR CTAF. I did and he said he heard me call that I was departing Runway 27 and did not see me there so he assumed that I was already past him. I asked why he did not takeoff to the northwest like he said he was going to; and he said that the wind was better for him to make the initial climb to the south. He also said that he never saw me go by him. The only thing we could have done differently given the situation would have been to re-assert that we were rolling as soon as we heard the helicopter on CTAF; but I assumed that he could see us and that he had a high level of experience. (I thought he was an Air Taxi.) On the helicopter's side he sure could have checked the runway before crossing it and called us to be sure of our present position before crossing it.
SA227 Captain reports taking control of the aircrft as the First Officer rotates; to avoid a helicopter departing the the ramp and over flying the departure runway. Agressive maneuvers are required to avoid the helicopter then the Control Tower which was closed at the time.