THE L LNDG GEAR WAS DAMAGED WHEN AN SMA HIT A SIGN ON GAR.

Narrative

WHILE I WAS ON FINAL ON RWY 18 I HAD A QUARTERING HEADWIND FROM 230 DEGS. I WAS KEEPING THE NECESSARY CORRECTION FOR THE WIND DRIFT AND I TOUCHED THE CTRLINE OF THE RWY AT 90 KIAS. THE ACFT (A PIPER LANCE) BOUNCED AND TOUCHED THE SECOND TIME ON THE L PART OF THE RWY. WHILE I WAS KEEPING THE R AILERON INTO THE WIND. THE PLANE BOUNCED AGAIN AND I REALIZED THAT WE WERE DRIFTING FURTHER TO THE L. I APPLIED FULL PWR AND I INITIATED A GAR. IT TOOK A SECOND OR 2 FOR THE ENG TO INCREASE ITS PWR AND; AT THAT MOMENT; THE ACFT HIT THE TXWY SIGN L OF THE RWY WITH THE L MAIN GEAR. THE ACFT CONTINUED FLYING; BUT THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE L WING WAS NOT SMOOTH BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT. WE CLBED TO 1000 FT MSL AND MADE 2 CIRCLES ABOVE THE ARPT RAMP FOR THE MAINT PEOPLE OF THE FBO TO SEE THE DAMAGED GEAR. (I HAD NO INDICATION OF DOWN AND LOCKED L GEAR LIGHT.) THEY TOLD ME THAT THE GEAR WAS JUST HANGING THERE; NOT IN THE PROPER WAY. I DECLARED AN EMER AND DECIDED TO LAND ON THE GRASS STRIP TO THE L OF RWY 18. I PERFORMED THE EMER LNDG AND THE AIRPLANE STOPPED NEAR THE RAMP. WE EVACED THE AIRPLANE. NO ONE OF MY 4 PAX WAS INJURED. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE GONE AROUND SOONER WHEN I RECOGNIZED THE DRIFT. I HAD NO INDICATION OF A STRONG XWIND. THE ARPT WINDSOCK WAS NOT UP ALL THE WAY. I ESTIMATED THE WIND AT 8-10 KTS.