I was watching an R44 rotors running on the pad with two Chinese tourists in the back in North Island New Zealand a few years ago. Suddenly out pops the pilot and walks back to the office some 50m away. I watch with interest as the helicopter sits with its rotors turning gently rocking backwards and forwards with the somewhat anxious looking tourists in the back seat, he returns after about 6 or 7 minutes jumps in and they fly off. I suspect words might have been had with the operators if it had been in EASA land over that. Saying that I have left a heli with the rotors turning for five minutes half way up a mountain where you would not want to be in a position where you couldn't start it again..... but not with tourists in the back.