PVT PLT TRAINING FOR HIS COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE RATING; IN A PIPER ARROW; PA28R-200; AND ACCOMPANIED BY A FLT INSTRUCTOR; MADE A HARD LNDG CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WING SPAR WHERE THE R LNDG GEAR IS ATTACHED. AREA HAD BEEN DAMAGED PREVIOUSLY.

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I WAS RECEIVING DUAL INSTRUCTION ON A VFR TRAINING FLT. INSTRUCTOR ASKED ME TO TAKE US INTO A LCL STRIP FOR SOME SHORT FIELD LNDG PRACTICE. WE PASSED OVER THE FIELD AND DECIDED TO LAND IN A NBOUND DIRECTION (WINDS WERE CALM). JOINED CIRCUIT FROM THE E SIDE AT A 45 DEGS FOR R DOWNWIND. EXECUTED SHORT FIELD LNDG PROC AS PER POH. GEAR DOWN; FULL FLAPS; 80 MPH (STRIP IS 1700 FT LONG BY 24 FT). APCH WAS VERY STABLE. OVER THRESHOLD BEGAN FLARE. NOSE LIFTED BUT NO APPRECIABLE ARREST IN DSCNT RATE. ACFT LANDED HARD (DID NOT BOUNCE). THE DECISION WAS MADE TO STOP AND MAKE A BRIEF INSPECTION OF LNDG GEAR PRIOR TO FURTHER FLT. NOSE GEAR AND L MAIN SHOWED NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE. R MAIN GEAR HAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE. BUCKLING AT SPAR AND CAUSING SOME WRINKLING OF THE UPPER WING SURFACE. LCL A&P MADE A QUICK INSPECTION OF THE GEAR AND RECOMMENDED NOT TO CONTINUE FLT UNTIL A FERRY PERMIT WAS ISSUED AND A MORE IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE DAMAGE COULD BE MADE. ELECTED TO LEAVE ACFT THERE UNTIL THIS COULD BE COMPLETED. MY BELIEF IS THAT AS WE DSNDED BELOW THE TREE TOPS WE EXPERIENCED A DECREASING PERFORMANCE WINDSHEAR ROBBING US OF AIRSPD REQUIRED TO ARREST DSCNT RATE. THERE WAS NO TIME FOR MYSELF OR THE INSTRUCTOR TO RECOVER. IN THE FUTURE AROUND TALL SHIELDING TREES I WOULD RECOMMEND A BUFFER OF A FEW MPH IN AIRSPD FOR AN ADDED MARGIN OF SAFETY. FURTHER NOTE -- FIRST A&P THAT LOOKED AT DAMAGE NOTICED THE AFFECTED AREA HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED AND SHOWED SIGNS OF PREVIOUS UNREPAIRED DAMAGE IN THE FORM OF A CRACK ON THE GEAR SPAR. THIS WAS OBVIOUS AS IT WAS VERY DIRTY AT THAT PART OF THE CRACK AND THE NEW (CONTINUED) PART OF THE CRACK WAS VERY SHINY. IN REGARDS TO THE DAMAGE HE BELIEVED THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS SERIOUSLY INCREASED DUE TO THE PREVIOUS CRACKING IN THE AFFECTED AREA. IT IS MY PERSONAL OPINION THAT THIS DAMAGE WOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE PREVIOUS UNREPAIRED DAMAGE.