During ~10k hours, I have never approached engine limits on an L1 or an L3. Torque limits, though, are approached with regularity. The upgraded L3 works very well, and I've come out of very tight LZs with tall obstacles, at or near 4150 lb, and never exceeded 100%. Cooler temps than mentioned, though, so if you want to operate at 40 degrees, you may need the extra 4.8% torque. The L4 is probably what you really need, and what Bell is currently producing. No way you can fill the seats, though, unless the pax are very small and you have a very light configuration.