Incident Overview
The pilot reported that during the final approach, just before the airplane touched down, it encountered a gust of wind. This gust caused the airplane to deviate from the runway heading. The pilot then decided to abort the landing.
Go-Around Maneuver
To abort, the pilot applied power to initiate a go-around. During the transition from the landing configuration to a climb, the airplane struck a taxiway sign. The collision inflicted substantial damage to the side of the fuselage. Despite the impact, the airplane remained controllable.
Subsequent Flight and Landing
After the collision, the pilot continued the climb and subsequently returned to land at the airport. The landing was completed without further incident. No additional issues were noted during the remainder of the flight.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The airplane was considered to have been operating normally prior to the event. No anomalies were reported that would have precluded normal operation.