One little nugget from that NYT article was a hotlink to the FlightAware database for that Aircraft:
Flight Aware log for the accident aircraft
They work those things hard. I have no idea if that's a big deal for a utility helicopter, but it seems like a lot from my casual observer's point of view. 10 flights on the day of the incident, 18 the day before. I suppose that's not very different to a flying school or the like. It's a money printer for the owner.