PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Sea; Other ASEL & ASES
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 21970; Flight Crew Type 2000
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
Student Pilot training event. We had been operating the Piper PA-28-140 aircraft for approximately 45 minutes conducting airport pattern work. Upon lifting off for our seventh consecutive practice takeoff and landing (every other landing being a full stop taxi back); the plane engine sputtered (approximately 30 t0 50 feet AGL) I immediately called 'My airplane'.  Dropping the nose to establish a glide; I determined the airport fence at the end of the runway was able to be cleared; allowing a landing in the grassy area just off the airport. The engine suddenly surged to full power giving us a climb which I hoped for a potential 180 degree turn back to the airport. However; the burst of power was short lived and we were again left with few options; I aimed for the four-lane divided highway into the wind. Timing the traffic flow between the pickup truck headed east and the pickup truck headed west we could just fit between the second truck and a SUV in trail of the pickup truck.Aligning the glide path with the outside lane behind the pickup in the inner fast lane; called for a steep turn and a snap recovery to wings level. We went under the power lines across the east bound lanes of the highway; straightened our glide with the open lane (our landing spot) and touched down rolling to a stop avoiding the truck and the SUV.Shut down; all switches off; fuel selector to off; vacated the aircraft. With help; using the tow bar and helpful citizens; we relocated the aircraft off the highway into a parking area and called the county sheriff's office to report. Sirens blaring within a minute or so and fire; police; safety officers; EMT's arrived on the scene. I offered information but only to official personnel. We received an escort back east on the highway to relocate the aircraft in tow behind the maintenance hangar rescue vehicle.
PA-28 Instructor Pilot reported landing on a highway after experiencing engine failure shortly after takeoff.