Eurocopter AS 350/355/EC130 - Astar/Twinstar/Ecureuil
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 2700; Flight Crew Type 400
Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
After making a precautionary landing due to a burning smell in the cabin (with no passengers aboard).  I inspected the aircraft for the source of the smell; which turned out to be the air conditioner compressor bearings.  I called my Supervisor of flight to see how to proceed.  I was advised that I could cut the air conditioner belt and fly back to a Maintenance facility.  The next day; I was told that to disable the airconditioning system was a MEL item and only a Mechanic was supposed to disable the system before flying.
AS350 pilot reported making a precautionary landing due to a burning odor in the cabin caused by air conditioning compressor.  Pilot cut the drive belt on the advice of company personnel and flew to a Maintenance facility where it was learned that the procedure could only be performed by a qualified Mechanic and that it was an MEL item.