Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 18; Flight Crew Total 1455; Flight Crew Type 1309
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Environment - Non Weather Related; Airport; Aircraft
Cleared [for] takeoff; left turn to the VOR. Taxied onto 19R; lined up on centerline at the end of the runway began takeoff roll. During takeoff roll; on centerline heard a thump. [Though to myself]; 'What the heck?' Rotated; gear up; all normal; up and locked - everything seemed normal. Climb out normal through 500 FT. Climb to cruise normal (climb; speeds; performance; absence of vibration; etc.). Cruise flight normal. Cancelled IFR at the OCN VOR; proceeded directly to the airport. Approach; normal landing; until nose came down; then significant shudder and shimmy in the nose. Hauled back on elevator to lighten the nose; and slowed. Thought was just flat nose tire. In fact; that's what I reported to the tug guy when he called on the radio.Pulled off the runway itself (although not past the hold short lines). When tug guy came up; shut down (kept the engine running up to then so I had radio and lights; for collision avoidance and communications). Then; shut down; came around front to talk with tug guy. That's when I first noticed the prop damage. Prop tips damaged; taxi light shattered; no other evident damage.
Following a 'normal' flight; save for a 'thump' just prior to rotation; the pilot of a BE36 was surprised to discover significant damage to the nose gear and propeller after landing at his destination.