"it must have been under near max power to just stay in contact with the rock!"
Actually, I don't think it requires very much power at all, to stay in contact with the ground. It tends to be the other way round.
(PS. at the end of the press release it says the following:
EUROCOPTER is thankful to the Nepalese government and all its departments for their help and friendly support throughout this mission.
So I guess permission was granted)