Safety First
I am having a hard time seeing everyones concern about the pilot closing the door on an operating 206. In the US at least, have a read of AC 91-32B, "Safety in and around helicopters" Even the FAA gives guidelines for just such operations. Some fixed wing inspectors have had elevated conversations with me about this until I enlighten them on the Agency written policy. I am especially sensetive about the "safety" aspect of pilots leaving the controls while rotors turning. Think about the risks of passengers boarding or disembarking from your aircraft with or without bags as you set studiously strapped at the controls while these untrained or even trained (executives) persons wander all around your operating rotors. At least while at the controls, the pilot can shut the engine down after the rotor/skull strike has happened. To me the obvious choice (single pilot) is for the the pilot to meet the pax at the rotor disk edge and have a quick brief and load the pax and secure all doors seat belts, and baggage stowed. Same applies for pax off load, everyone keeps their seats until escorted by the pilot safely away from the A/C with their bags.
Why not just shut down? This question obviously comes from persons NOT paying the maintenance bills. Turbine cycle retirement, starter/gen wear, 15 minute waiting period before initiating the restart for the reqd TOT drop, hot batteries, and hot starts. In the scenario first mentioned in this post, this would not have even happened if the crew had secured the doors personally before departure. Our policy is always PIC last in, first out hot or cold. I don't see, given the statistics any safer way.
B.T.W.,this is all based on Bell 206 series aircraft and Allison R/R powerplants. Twist grip to flight idle, frictions full on, into the wind, no ice/snow/mud surfaces. No policy is without its exceptions.