Date: 201506
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: VNY.Airport, CA
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Cessna Citation Sovereign (C680)
Operator: Fractional
Operating under: Part 135
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class D VNY
ATC / advisory: Tower VNY
Second aircraft: Helicopter
Reporter organization: Fractional
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Second reporter function: First Officer; Pilot Not Flying
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict NMAC
Detector: Automation Aircraft RA
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Airspace Structure; Procedure
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: We just departed VNY on the NEWHALL EIGHT departure (NUAL8) from 16R. The PIC was the pilot flying. We just leveled off at 1;700 feet per the DP and on a 160 heading. At 2.1 DME from the localizer I started a slow roll to the left in anticipation of 2.2 DME in which you turn to heading 110. Then you are to climb to 4;000 feet. At this exact moment; while in the turn and at 2.2 DME; the tower issued traffic; a helicopter at our 11 o'clock. I was focused on flying; had my hands full with a very low level (1;000 feet AGL) level off; turn; speed control; and further altitude anticipation. My partner at the exact moment of all this was contacted by ATC about the traffic. He began to search. I was on the instruments and didn't see the traffic. Half way through the turn or so my partner; once done talking to ATC; said I could climb now (to 4;000 feet) so I pitched up about 10 degrees and began adding power. At this point we got an RA and to 'monitor vertical speed'. It was showing a red bar at 7 degrees nose up or so. As stated; I was at 10 degrees already. I looked at the TCAS and saw the target; red; at -500 just to our left and almost on top of us. We appeared to fly directly over him. My partner and I never visually saw him. We were over him at 2;000 MSL at this point. But even as I climbed; the target stayed at -500 feet. My partner later said that he saw the TCAS get to -300 and that the helicopter was actually climbing with us. And that it then stayed at -500 as we climbed together; which is what I saw. We told ATC of the RA. He asked if the tower advised us of the traffic. We said he did. ...no separation was provided though. I'm not sure what clearance the helicopter was following; why it was climbing in my departure path; or why we were released with such traffic in the area. The pilot flying was task saturated and I had no chance of picking up the target visually. I could have had the autopilot on right away; but I'm not one for degrading my skills. It just was a fast moving event with many things occurring all at once. It would have helped if the tower provided a traffic alert prior to takeoff because I had no idea that guy was there. And the quick level off at 1;000 AGL is absurd. No IFR traffic should ever level that low; especially in a high traffic area.


Second narrative: ATC issued us traffic 11 o'clock - helicopter (?? feet) below - contact departure. As we began the climbing turn at 2.2 DME; we got a RA from the traffic. We were pitched up about 10 degrees; RA commanded at least 7.5 degrees. As we climbed; the RA continued and I saw the traffic get within 300 feet on the TCAS. We never did make visual contact with the helicopter. Checked in with departure control and notified him of the TCAS RA event.


Synopsis: CE-680 flight crew reported an NMAC and an RA on departure from VNY when they crossed directly over a helicopter with -300 showing on the TCAS.