Narrative:

As I was approaching from the northeast; the tower controller told me to expect left traffic for runway 19L. She then told me to turn directly toward the numbers and cleared me to land on 19L. Following ATC instructions; I preceded to go direct to the 15 degree final established at the airport (parallel runway issue). Upon encountering strong convective turbulence prior to flare; I elected to go around. After notifying ATC of my intentions; the controller told me to begin an early crosswind and downwind turn. I acknowledged. At the same time of my go around declaration; a helicopter was cleared for a direct takeoff from an FBO on the airport. He had informed ATC he was departing to the southwest (directly away from me) which is why I presumed they were instructing me to begin an early left turnout. However; he began to fly directly toward my climbing aircraft. Seeing this ahead; I took evasive action in order to evade the craft. Using nearly full deflection of the elevator I proceeded below the helicopter. Just as I was flying below him; ATC issued a traffic alert for the helicopter who had violated his takeoff clearance. I then told ATC that I 'would extend my crosswind for the traffic because he was way too close.' the nervous ATC controller told me that I could do what I needed; and that when I was ready; I was cleared to land on runway 19L again. By the time I was wings up base to final; there was a new controller on frequency. I landed and taxied back to my parking spot; with an insane solo cross country story. I believe this incident occurred due not only to the helicopter pilot's error of departing in the wrong direction; but the controller's error in not realizing that a go-around was possible for my landing aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An unanticipated go-around due to turbulence by a student pilot on final to Runway 19L (now 20L) at SNA; combined with a takeoff clearance to a helicopter departing from a downfield FBO; resulted in an NMAC as the student dove abruptly to avoid the helicopter.

Narrative: As I was approaching from the northeast; the tower controller told me to expect left traffic for runway 19L. She then told me to turn directly toward the numbers and cleared me to land on 19L. Following ATC instructions; I preceded to go direct to the 15 degree final established at the Airport (Parallel runway issue). Upon encountering strong convective turbulence prior to flare; I elected to go around. After notifying ATC of my intentions; the controller told me to begin an early crosswind and downwind turn. I acknowledged. At the same time of my go around declaration; a helicopter was cleared for a direct takeoff from an FBO on the airport. He had informed ATC he was departing to the southwest (directly away from me) which is why I presumed they were instructing me to begin an early left turnout. However; he began to fly directly toward my climbing aircraft. Seeing this ahead; I took evasive action in order to evade the craft. Using nearly full deflection of the elevator I proceeded below the helicopter. Just as I was flying below him; ATC issued a traffic alert for the helicopter who had violated his takeoff clearance. I then told ATC that I 'would extend my crosswind for the traffic because he was way too close.' The nervous ATC controller told me that I could do what I needed; and that when I was ready; I was cleared to land on runway 19L again. By the time I was wings up base to final; there was a new controller on frequency. I landed and taxied back to my parking spot; with an insane solo cross country story. I believe this incident occurred due not only to the helicopter pilot's error of departing in the wrong direction; but the controller's error in not realizing that a go-around was possible for my landing aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.