Bell 212 First Officer reports high descent rate into a snow covered landing site that resulted in engine over torque and momentary IMC due to snow kicked up from the site. A decision was reached between the pilots and company management to fly back to base for a maintenance inspection.

Narrative

I was flying as Second in Command in a Bell 212 helicopter and our mission was to take 2 passengers and bags to a field site. The weather was reported; from an airfield which is about 3 miles or less from our take off point; to be 4100 FT and 9 miles visibility. We departed to the field site and shortly we encountered a pretty heavy snow shower. As we approached an intermediate waypoint; we could see it at 3 miles. We continued on to our landing site and initiated our approach from approximately 1000 FT at about .2 miles. I called out that we were too close to make the approach; at which time the pilot in command made a go-around and set up for another approach. Upon starting the second approach; I again stated we were too close; and we were already in a descent. Our rate of descent became too great to accomplish a landing and at the bottom of our approach; the PIC leveled the aircraft and pulled in the collective to keep us from impacting the ground. We were enveloped in a very thick snow cloud and the pilot did an ITO to about 50 FT to clear us from the snow cloud. We over-torqued the aircraft to 115% N2 and it is only allowed 100%. After consulting with our Director of Maintenance; Director of Operations; and Chief Pilot; we flew the aircraft back to base; a distance of about 20 miles; so that our maintenance people could look at the aircraft. We should not have flown the aircraft until it was properly inspected and pronounced airworthy; but the fact that there was only an ice road out to the helicopter influenced us to try to make it easier on our mechanics to work on the aircraft.