C172 ACFT LNDG HAD VIBRATIONS WHEN NOSEWHEEL LOWERED TO RWY. RPTR PLT PURPOSELY PITCHED UP OFF THE RWY FOR A SECOND AND THIRD TRY; BUT STILL THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. CAUSE WAS A FLAT NOSE TIRE.

Narrative

WITH A RENTED PLANE (C172); I FLEW A FRIEND OF MINE; TWR ENRTE CTLED; FROM VNY TO SBA. WE DID THE VOR RWY 25 APCH INTO SBA; VMC. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE MAIN WHEELS FIRST. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN SOFTLY. THE LNDG WAS NOT HARD AND LOOKED GOOD. AT THE MOMENT THE NOSEWHEEL FIRST TOUCHED DOWN; I FELT A DRAGGING SENSATION; THEN A VERT VIBRATION BEGAN. I INCREASED THE BACK PRESSURE; AND THE VIBRATION STOPPED. I QUICKLY CHKED THE PARKING BRAKE -- IT WAS ALL THE WAY OFF. WE LIFTED OFF APPROX 1 FT ABOVE THE RWY; TOUCHED DOWN ON THE MAINS AGAIN. WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL CAME DOWN; THE VIBRATIONS STARTED AGAIN. I PITCHED UP AGAIN; HARDER THIS TIME; TO GAIN ABOUT 10 FT ALT. AT THE TOP OF THE ARC; I ADDED FULL PWR AND PITCHED UP. AS ENOUGH RWY WAS AVAILABLE; I LET THE PLANE SETTLE DOWN TO THE GND WITH A NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE. THE MAIN WHEELS TOUCHED; THEN THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED. AGAIN; WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED; DRAG AND VIBRATION STARTED. AS THE ACFT SLOWED DOWN; SUDDENLY THE VIBRATIONS BECAME MORE VIOLENT. I FOCUSED MY ATTN ON MAINTAINING DIRECTIONAL CTL. I STOPPED STRAIGHT AHEAD. I SUSPECT A DEFECTIVE TIRE WHICH WENT FLAT AND AN EXTREMELY WEAK OLEO STRUT WHICH MAY HAVE LEAKED BEFORE. AS I WAS REJECTING ANOTHER FLT ABOUT 6 WKS EARLIER IN THIS PLANE BECAUSE OF 2 FUEL LEAKS AND A VISIBLE OIL SPILL ON THE TOP OF THE NOSEWHEEL FAIRING; I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE PLANE'S STATE ON APR/XA/98 BEFORE MY FLT. TO PLTS WHO RENT PLANES -- THOSE CONDITIONS ARE NOT DETECTABLE DURING PREFLT. I RECOMMEND EVERY RENTER TO TAKE SUSPICIOUS AND BAD FEELINGS ABOUT AN ACFT'S STATE SERIOUSLY!