ROTARY WINGED TFC STOPS BY HIS SELF-STYLED CAR WASH TO REMOVE THE DAY'S DIRT AND BUGS; IN AND OUT OF THE SPRAY TWICE. INFLT ENG SHUTDOWN MANDATES EMER FORCED LNDG. ACFT DAMAGE.

Narrative

AFTER FLYING 30 TOURS OF APPROX 6 MIN EACH IN A 4 HR PERIOD; I WAS TO PARK THE ACFT NEAR A HANGAR LOCATED ON THE VENDOR'S PROPERTY (THIS IS A 5 DAY PER WK CONTRACT). BECAUSE THE ACFT WAS SALTY; (THE FLYING AREA IS NEAR THE OCEAN); DIRTY AND THE WINDSHIELD STAINED WITH BUGS; I ELECTED TO FLY THE ACFT THROUGH THE DISCHARGE FROM A NEARBY IRRIGATION SPRINKLER; THEN GO TO PARKING. AFTER THE SECOND PASS AT THE SPRINKLER; THE HELI ENG FAILED. I WAS FORCED TO TURN 180 DEGS TO MAKE AN UNIMPROVED ROAD. ALTHOUGH I MADE THE ROAD; THE LAST 1 1/2 FT OF THE AUTO ROTATION WAS VERT CAUSING A HARD LNDG WITH DAMAGE TO THE R AFT SECTION OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT CAME TO REST ON THE ROAD IN AN UPRIGHT POS. NO FURTHER DAMAGE RESULTED. AFTER PERFORMING EMER SHUTDOWN PROCS I USED MY PERSONAL CELLULAR PHONE TO CALL THE OFFICE AND INFORM THEM OF THE INCIDENT. SUBSEQUENTLY; THE OFFICE CALLED THE FAA. MY PERCEPTIONS SINCE THE INCIDENT ARE THIS: ALTHOUGH I AM HAPPY WITH MY PERFORMANCE THROUGHOUT THE INCIDENT; I AM PRETTY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY LACK OF JUDGEMENT LEADING UP TO THE INCIDENT. IT WAS A CASE OF 'GET HOMEITIS' COUPLED WITH 'IT'LL NEVER HAPPEN TO ME.' I HOPE THE GOV WILL CONTINUE ITS CAMPAIGN TO ADVISE PLTS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD JUDGEMENT. ALSO; I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THE IMPORTANCE OF CELLULAR PHONES ON ACFT. NOT FOR THEIR USE IN THE AIR; BUT FOR THE VALUE THEY BRING AS A 'SURVIVAL RADIO' WHEN THE ACFT MUST BE FORCE LANDED FOR ANY REASON.