ralph
Have you heard of "Operation Plum Duff"?
That was a circumstance which involved a Seaking that I am led to believe was spectacularly over it's MAUW. It was a calculated risk.
I assume since you mentiuoned Afghan that you are military or ex mil.
Saving a life is not the only reason to do something dangerous. Sometimes operational effect is worth the risk of breaking a few rules.
ie, sometimes it is worth it to take a life not save it.
The art of captaincy is knowing when and by just exactly how much to break rules/limits when the situation warrants it.
Otherwise all you would need to be the best captain ever is an encyclopedic knowledge of the rule book and it does not work that way.
Even the rule books, both civil and military recognise that excursions may be necessary and justified under certain circumstances.