Hi guys,
I don't know if the pilot made the calculation of the MTOW and performances but I think he could do it.
I never fly this maquine but some years ago I flew koala for firefighting operations in spain and I always did it.
With a koala you can carry 7 bombers, bambi bucket and about 2 hours of fluel.
I have news that the pilot was flying low level and the helicopter had a hydraulic failure.