Cardinal 177/177RG
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 24; Flight Crew Total 120; Flight Crew Type 60
Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Ground Event / Encounter Object; Inflight Event / Encounter Object; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Weather; Procedure
During landing on runway 34; my aircraft was weathervaned by shifting wind conditions after touchdown and began to depart the runway to the right. I immediately initiated a go-around; but clipped a runway exit sign just as I became airborne.  I announced my go-around and requested ground observation of my undercarriage as I returned for a low pass.  Ground observers reported no visible damage; so I returned for an uneventful landing.  Upon visual inspection on the ground; I discovered a small ¼ inch puncture in the aircraft skin about midway and just below the passenger door.  It is in a non structural area.  The airport manager indicated that the sign was designed to break away on impact and it did so.
A C177 landed in a crosswind and weathervaned toward the runway edge. The pilot then executed a go-around but struck a runway sign causing a small skin puncture below the passenger door.