On August 5, 2004, at 1745 central daylight time, a Cessna 172R, N458CM, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing on runway 4 (5,130 feet by 100 feet, asphalt) at the New Century Airport (IXD), Olathe, Kansas. The student pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight departed the Springfield-Branson Regional Airport (SGF), Springfield, Missouri, at 1630. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan was filed. The student pilot reported that the flight was his third cross-country solo flight. He reported that while the landing at SGF, he side slipped the airplane during his final approach to runway 4. He reported, "When I flared, I was high and the aircraft touched down hard and ballooned several times." The airplane veered to the left of the runway and the left main landing gear and nose gear went off the side of the runway. He regained control and taxied back to the general aviation ramp where he refueled the airplane. He inspected the landing gear for damage and he found none. The student pilot continued on his last leg of his cross-country flight and departed IXD for his final destination, Skyhaven Airport (9K4), Warrensburg, Missouri. The student pilot reported that the "aircraft performed normally during run-up, take-off and throughout the flight back to 9K4 (Skyhaven)." He reported that during his post-flight inspection of the airplane, he discovered a propeller tip was bent. A subsequent inspection revealed the engine firewall was buckled.