PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 55; Flight Crew Total 350; Flight Crew Type 136
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Procedure
I have departed ZZZ airport to the south to practice landings in ZZZ1. On the way back to ZZZ I have contacted ZZZ Tower around 7NM to 8 NM south of the field; the Tower has replied standby so I have tuned to easterly heading so I will not enter the airspace; a few minutes after that the Tower has instructed me to join mid left downwind for Runway XX and to report when established on the downwind; after I have established on the downwind I have notified the Tower. To the best of my knowledge and memory the Tower has replied the following instruction: 'you are number 3 for Runway XX continue'; I have given the Tower read back and then I looked forward to visually scan for the traffic in front of me; I remember clearly that I saw 2 aircraft in the final for Runway XX; the first one was an airplane in the short final and the second one was a helicopter that was also in the final behind him. I remember that I have pointed the 2 aircraft to my students and explained to them that these are the aircraft that are in front of us and we will follow them as we are number 3 in the sequence. After the helicopter was abeam to my position; I continued to fly on the downwind for an extra 30 seconds to 1 minute so I will allow some extra spacing between myself and the helicopter as I'm flying with students on their first ever fly day. As I was told I'm number 3 in sequence and I visually saw the 2 aircraft that are in front of me I have continued the traffic pattern and turn left to the base leg; and then when I was in the appropriate position I have turned final. Between 30 seconds to 1 minute after I was established on the final for XX the Tower has instructed me to 'immediately turn heading 090 and break the approach'; I have immediately took controls from my student and turned to the heading 090 while giving a read back to the Tower. As I have established on the heading 090 I saw that there was a jet aircraft on the final approach behind me; approximately 1;200 feet horizontally and 300 feet vertically in my evaluation. after that I have continued to comply with the Tower instructions and followed a different traffic that was on the downwind to join the final for Runway XX again for a full stop. Before landing when I was on short final I have verified with the Tower that I had clearance to land.I have strong belief in self critic and self evaluation and after this event has occurred I have come up with the following safety measures that can help prevent this situation from reoccurring:1. When you have been instructed to follow traffic while on the downwind; you should always verify with Tower that you can start your turn towards the base leg.2. When you are told that you are number 3 in sequence and you see the 2 aircraft in front of you; that absolutely does not mean that you should stop looking for other traffic in the area; you still need scan for traffic very frequently.3. When flying on the base leg; even in a controlled airport; you should always try to look for more traffic coming on the final; both behind you and in front of you; and make sure that there is no traffic that can jeopardize the approach before actually making the turn to final.4. Do not think that just because you are flying in a controlled airspace under ATC supervision; you are protected. Always actively scan for traffic and verify ATC instructions.I believe that if I had used these safety measures that I have mentioned above this event could have been prevented. I am glad no damage has been done in this event; and I'm committed to learn from this experience and actively seek to improve myself as a pilot and as flight instructor.
PA-28 instructor reported taking evasive action after airborne conflict during approach to landing.