Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 65; Flight Crew Total 243.2; Flight Crew Type 243.2
Communication Breakdown; Confusion; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Event / Encounter Ground Strike - Aircraft
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Weather; Aircraft
I had checked the weather before flight; was clear and there was no gust when I started the flight. I flied 5 traffic patterns in ZZZ and I got the information from the tower that the gust changed to 20; so I requested the tower for full stop. The Tower approved the full stop; so I made a last landing and because of the gust; I made a hard landing. There was no problem when I taxied back to parking. For the safety; I reported that I got a hard landing and asked him whether the plane should be squawked.So the Dispatcher looked around the plane and there was no problem on the airplane; so he said it did not need a squawk. Next day; a student pilot and instructor did preflight and flied with the same airplane. Two days later I got informed that the airplane's fire wall got dent.I am not sure that the fire wall's dent happened because of my hard landing. The Dispatcher and I already investigated the airplane after the hard landing and nothing was found out on that day. Furthermore; even pilots mentioned above did a preflight and finished the flight safely after my flight with the same airplane. I think someone who had a tailstrike could also cause the fire wall's dent. Anyway; what I did mistakenly is that I did not insist on squawking the airplane. I should have insisted the airplane should go to the maintenance even if it did not affect the airplane or the dispatcher said it did not need a squawk. I regret about that. Next time; I will insist on squawking the airplane.
Pilot reported a hard landing and then a couple days later was informed the aircraft had a dent on it.