PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 46; Flight Crew Total 512; Flight Crew Type 122
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Instructing student on dual flight from ZZZ. Pre-flighted aircraft and fueled up and sump check good. Taxied to [Runway] XX. Run up checks were all within tolerance. Took off [Runway] XX and had normal performance for the weight and heat of the day. Getting around 300-400 FPM climb after crossing through 50 feet above the runway. Did our check of engine gauges; all green. Contacted Approach around 800 feet MSL and were told on course heading; started turn to NW and experienced partial power loss from 2;250 to 1;800 RPM. Instructor said 'what was that?' I took controls from my Student and remained Pilot Flying till we landed. Checked mixture full rich; throttle full; fuel pump on; and switched fuel tanks. Made a call to Approach and turned back to the airport. Was switched over to Tower and requested priority as we could not maintain altitude and safe airspeed. Did not lose total engine power until after we landed. Made sure Student was OK and calm. Picked a field and put in one notch of flaps; then full flaps once the field was made. Turned 180 degrees at 30 degree bank and aimed for first 3rd of runway. Touched down as smoothly as possible and used parking brake to come to a stop. Engine died as we rolled to a stop. Called emergency personnel; no injuries or visible damage to the plane; surprisingly. Plane overhead spotted us.
We did the run up and pre-takeoff checklist and everything was checked out. We made a call to Tower and were cleared for takeoff on Runway XX. We took off with 10 degrees of flaps and full power and started climbing; and engine was sluggish due to high heat index; but within normal operating range. We did our initial climb check with engine gauges and Departure was contacted. Altitude was reported as 800 feet MSL and climbing; we took out the flaps; and turned toward our heading. At 1;000 MSL we had a partial power loss before we reached our heading. I noticed the partial power loss right away and exclaimed; 'What was that?' to my Instructor and instructor took controls. We switched the fuel pump on and then verified mixture and throttle were full and then switched fuel tanks. Nothing changed. We established proper pitch for best glide. My Instructor made a call to Departure; but then was switched to Tower and made a call. We were cleared to land Runway XY; but aborted landing because we were too far from the runway. Instructor put in 10 degrees of flaps and found a field. Instructor put in full flaps and did 30 degrees of bank to align with the field while descending rapidly. At 100 feet AGL; instructor pulled power to idle. Instructor then flared to land and we touched down. We immediately pulled the parking brake as the engine had total power loss and the propeller stood still. We stopped before the trees and switched off fuel pump; master; and turned off magnetos. We got out and started contacting the appropriate people. We opened the engine compartment to check things out and made sure the propeller was OK. An airplane found us and began circling and emergency personnel arrived. We left the airplane in the field and walked to meet with the personnel and they took it from there.
PA-28 instructor and student reported a loss of engine power resulting in an off-airport landing.