Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 50; Flight Crew Total 3000; Flight Crew Type 1000
Training / Qualification
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure
I was operating an R44 and was picking up two friends for a trip.  There was a rain storm just south of the airport at this time and I was in a hurry to depart with my two friends to avoid the rain storm.  My friends went to get in and could not get their luggage under the seat.  I locked the controls and helped get the baggage in and left.  I understand that it was wrong to leave the controls while the helicopter was running and it was pilot error to do so.  It won't happen again.
On the ramp with the engine running; an R44 pilot left the controls unattended to assist a passenger in stowing luggage.