Narrative:

Cdc has many helicopters training in the area. I landed for fuel on runway 02; taxied to the east side of the airport for self-serve fuel. I refueled and the immediately adjacent runway - 26 - was favorable for my intended direction of travel; and to the best of my recollection it was favored by light winds from the northwest. I also was considering the training helicopter activity on the ramp and the 26 departure put me on the runway quickly; allowing me to expedite my departure from the busy training environment. I heard other aircraft inbound; but they were a comfortable distance out. I saw no traffic creating a conflict for a 26 departure. I announced a 26 departure. As I was climbing out; I noticed a R44 helicopter at the west end of 26; blades turning; sitting on the ground. It was not close call. I routinely have closer interactions using the taxiway at my home airport with training helicopters in the pattern. The R44 was on the ground at the time and I had substantial altitude. A minute or so later; I heard the R44 pilot announce a movement. Knowing then that the pilot was on CTAF; I asked the pilot why he had not said something on the radio when I announced I was using 26. He replied the runway was closed. He was correct; and when he said that; I in fact recalled the NOTAM. Nothing on the AWOS or on the ground prior to 26 entry indicated closure. The runway was in fine condition from what I could see. I do not agree that a runway being notamed closed suggests that one then shouldn't use the radio to tell someone where you are at or better; point out the closure. Factors affecting my decision making include not rechecking notams prior to takeoff and wanting to quickly leave the training environment and continue my x-country flight. Also; distance or possibly runway crown prevented me from seeing the R44 at the opposite end prior to takeoff.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 unknowingly departed from closed Runway 26 at CDC causing some concern to a helicopter training crew.

Narrative: CDC has many helicopters training in the area. I landed for fuel on runway 02; taxied to the east side of the airport for self-serve fuel. I refueled and the immediately adjacent runway - 26 - was favorable for my intended direction of travel; and to the best of my recollection it was favored by light winds from the NW. I also was considering the training helicopter activity on the ramp and the 26 departure put me on the runway quickly; allowing me to expedite my departure from the busy training environment. I heard other aircraft inbound; but they were a comfortable distance out. I saw no traffic creating a conflict for a 26 departure. I announced a 26 departure. As I was climbing out; I noticed a R44 helicopter at the west end of 26; blades turning; sitting on the ground. It was not close call. I routinely have closer interactions using the taxiway at my home airport with training helicopters in the pattern. The R44 was on the ground at the time and I had substantial altitude. A minute or so later; I heard the R44 pilot announce a movement. Knowing then that the pilot was on CTAF; I asked the pilot why he had not said something on the radio when I announced I was using 26. He replied the runway was closed. He was correct; and when he said that; I in fact recalled the NOTAM. Nothing on the AWOS or on the ground prior to 26 entry indicated closure. The runway was in fine condition from what I could see. I do not agree that a runway being NOTAMed closed suggests that one then shouldn't use the radio to tell someone where you are at or better; point out the closure. Factors affecting my decision making include not rechecking NOTAMs prior to takeoff and wanting to quickly leave the training environment and continue my x-country flight. Also; distance or possibly runway crown prevented me from seeing the R44 at the opposite end prior to takeoff.

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.