PLT OF A C172 ATTEMPTING LNDG HAS WIND GUST PICK UP WING AND ACFT MOVES OFF CTRLINE. ON ATTEMPTED GAR ACFT PERFORMANCE POOR AND GEAR HITS A TXWY SIGN.

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UNFAMILIAR ARPT. VERY HOT (+41 DEGS C) DAY IN SCOTTSDALE; AZ. ON SHORT FINAL TO RWY 3; WENT LOW ON GLIDE PATH; ADDED PWR. AS A RESULT; AIRSPD TOO HIGH OVER THE NUMBERS. FLOATED DURING LNDG; RWY PLENTY LONG; SO DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO LAND. CAUGHT A WIND GUST FROM SE; FORCING ACFT TO THE L OF CTRLINE. ADDED PWR TO GAR; BUT CLB PERFORMANCE POOR; PROBABLY DUE TO HIGH DENSITY ALT RESULTING FROM HIGH TEMP AND FLAPS IN LNDG CONFIGN. FLT PATH DURING SLOW CLBOUT WAS OFF THE RWY TO THE L. HEARD/FELT 1 LOUD BANG. CLIPPED AND KNOCKED OVER TXWY SIGN. CONTINUED CLBOUT; MADE L TFC FOR RWY 3. MADE LOW PASS BY CTL TWR FOR VISUAL INSPECTION OF UNDERCARRIAGE. OBSERVERS NOTICED DAMAGE TO NOSEWHEEL FAIRING ONLY. DUE TO ANOTHER WIND SHIFT; CTLRS INSTRUCTED US TO LAND RWY 21. FLEW OUTBOUND; RETURNED TO RWY 21 AND LANDED USING SOFT-FIELD TECHNIQUE WITHOUT INCIDENT. TAXIED TO FBO AND SHUT DOWN. INSPECTED DAMAGE. SAW BROKEN NOSEWHEEL FAIRING AND BROKEN R MAIN GEAR STRUT FAIRING. LINE PERSONNEL BROUGHT OUT MECH WHO ASSESSED DAMAGE TO ACFT. DETERMINED AIRWORTHY FOR INTENDED RETURN FLT. SUGGESTED FIREWALL INSPECTION UPON RETURN. MADE NO LOGBOOK ENTRY. LOGBOOKS NOT ON BOARD. FUEL WAS TOPPED OFF. CHKED IN WITH FBO; PAID FOR FUEL; DEPARTED TO VISIT WITH PERSONAL FRIENDS. RETURNED TO FBO TO FIND MESSAGE FROM FAA FSDO AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR REQUESTING A MEETING PRIOR TO DEP. MET IN FBO PLT LOUNGE AND COMPLETED AN INCIDENT RPT. INSPECTOR ASKED IF A MECH HAD MADE INSPECTION; AND I SAID YES. HE ASKED WHO REMOVED THE DAMAGED R MAIN GEAR ROOT FAIRING; AND WE SAID THAT WE HAD. INSPECTOR SUGGESTED THAT WE MAKE AIRFRAME LOGBOOK ENTRY STATING AS MUCH. INSPECTOR ATTEMPTED TO LOCATED MECH TO REMOVE DAMAGED NOSEWHEEL FAIRING FOR RETURN FLT; BUT NONE AVAILABLE DUE TO LATE HR. RETURN FLT WAS UNEVENTFUL. INSPECTION THE NEXT DAY REVEALED NOSEWHEEL SUPPORTS SHEARED; FIREWALL DAMAGE; INTEGRITY OF AIRFRAME DEFINITELY COMPROMISED. WE WERE VERY LUCKY. LESSONS LEARNED: KEEP IT ON THE CTRLINE. BE WILLING TO GO AROUND SOONER. DAMAGE TO ACFT MAY BE UNDER THE COVERS; SO A CURSORY INSPECTION WOEFULLY INADEQUATE.