1985 RUTAN LONG E-Z. NOSE GEAR FAILED ON HARD LNDG.

Narrative

FLEW A NORMAL APCH TO RWY 23. VISIBILITY WAS GOOD WITH HAZE. NIGHT WAS VERY DARK. APCH WAS NORMAL AND ON PARAMETERS UNTIL OVER THE THRESHOLD. THE REILS WERE GIVING ME A PROB TRYING TO IDENT MY TOUCHDOWN ZONE. I FAILED TO CONSIDER USING THE PLT CTLED LIGHTING TO TURN THEM OFF. MY FOCUS SHIFTED FROM MY TOUCHDOWN POINT TO TRYING TO KEEP MYSELF FROM BEING BLINDED BY THE REILS. THIS DISTR CAUSED ME TO MISS THE RAPID RATE OF DSCNT UNTIL THE VERY LAST MOMENT. WHEN I REALIZED I WOULD HIT FLAT; I APPLIED FULL PWR AND TRIED TO FLARE. MY SHORT TIME IN THE ACFT MADE ME FEEL UNSURE OF HOW MUCH I COULD FLARE WITHOUT HAVING A PROP STRIKE. AS A RESULT; I HIT FLAT AND HARD. THIS SHEARED OFF THE 4 BOLTS HOLDING THE FRONT TIRE ON. ONCE I REALIZED I HAD NO TIRE; I CONTINUED TO HOLD MY NOSE OFF THE RWY UNTIL MY CANARDS LOST EFFECT AND MY NOSE FELL TO THE RWY; SCRAPING AWAY 2.5 INCHES OF MY COMPOSITE STRUT. THERE WAS NO TFC AT THE ARPT; SO I HAND TOWED THE ACFT TO ITS TIEDOWN SPOT. CFR RECOVERED THE TIRE. NO INJURIES OCCURRED TO MYSELF OR MY PAX.