STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR PLT IN PA28 MAKE HARD LNDG AT 06C AND DAMAGE L MAIN GEAR.

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MY CURRENT FLT INSTRUCTOR AND I WENT ON A FLT TO A PRACTICE AREA. WE PRACTICED ALL MANEUVERS REQUIRED FOR CFI RATING. UPON RETURNING TO THE ARPT (06C); WE ENCOUNTERED VERY TURBULENT CONDITIONS. WHILE ON SHORT FINAL; JUST OVER THE THRESHOLD; A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND MADE THE AIRPLANE SETTLE ON THE GND; FIRST OVER THE L MAIN GEAR; THEN ON R MAIN GEAR; THEN NOSE. GEAR DID NOT COLLAPSE. I WOULD NOT DESCRIBE THIS AS HARD LNDG. NEXT DAY 100 HR MAINT WAS PERFORMED ON THIS ACFT. MECH DISCOVERED DAMAGE TO THE L LNDG GEAR. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: CFI'S GET PAID ONLY WHEN THEY FLY. ALSO OWNER OF THE FLT SCHOOL PUSHING INSTRUCTORS TO FLY IN LESS THAN PERFECT CONDITIONS. I WAS ACTUALLY PLANNING TO DO THE GND SCHOOL THAT DAY; BUT WAS PERSUADED BY INSTRUCTOR TO GO FLYING. ALSO BEFORE DEPARTING; INSTRUCTOR TOLD ME THAT HE DOESN'T FEEL GOOD; HAS A LITTLE COLD AND WE MIGHT ONLY FLY FOR 30 MINS; NOT 3 HRS AS WAS SCHEDULED. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT I WAS FLYING; BUT I THINK MY INSTRUCTOR (WHO HAS MORE THAN 15000 HRS OF TOTAL TIME AND OVER 2 DECADES OF INSTRUCTING) COULD HAVE USED HIS BETTER JUDGEMENT AND TAKEN THE CTLS OF THE ACFT.