In my experience there are often added dangers when two pilots of different experience levels fly together. Usually as the less experienced pilot I have often found myself in situations I would have not got into on my own, trusting that the more experienced pilot was happy and could sort it out if it got too much for me.
In the hypothetical example, the pilot could have assumed that, as the more qualified pilot had said nothing, everything was OK.
Nothing to do with helicopters but this report has always left its mark on me as to the importance of sorting it out on the ground BEFORE you fly.
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/sites/aaib/cm...pdf_503038.pdf