I've heard variations on the A109 situation, not all of which blame the helicopter. I have no idea what is correct - this note is just to say "don't believe everything you hear here"
I think it's laudable for someone to realise limitations and give up gracefully like this. There's an R44 going around the UK with a registration which comes from the first word of a successful sandwich shop chain. One of the chain's two founders was its first owner, but he got scared and sold it.
I guess it keeps the insurance premiums down too, vicariously.