but to reef this back as pilot error shows a total lack of understanding of helicopter operation and engine management.
I totally agree. It is a nonsense to think that suddenly a whole bunch of chopper pilots adopted new SOPs that were damaging their engines. If the lead content of their fuel has changed it's a likely culprit. From time to time engine manufacturers make changes to the detriment of owners pockets. High wall pressure rings by Continental and crankshaft material change by Lycoming are two that come to mind. This does not seem to be the case this time because it would have to be very flukey that both companies did something stupid at exactly the same time.