Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
Run-up of aircraft was normal. All engine instruments were showing in the green throughout the entire start up; taxi and run-up. The student and I were issued a clearance to take off and fly heading 110. We needed to perform a soft field takeoff for the lesson we performed the maneuver and was pitching for 81 knots IAS and was climbing. At less than 500 feet the airplane made a loud pop noise in which I felt in rudder pedals. Followed by the noise was a power loss and a severe vibration. I took controls and [advised ATC] while trying to climb. ATC cleared us to land in which we did safely. While exiting the runway and taxiing to the ramp I saw that the oil pressure was getting lower and was able to taxi the aircraft to the ramp. I shut the engine down with 26 PSI oil pressure. After exiting the aircraft found oil covering the bottom of fuselage and on the ground. At no time was there any abnormal indications of there being a problem with the aircraft and was confident in my abilities to return the aircraft to the airport. Upon inspection of the engine we found that one of the cylinders had failed and separated.
A flight instructor described a training flight that experienced an engine failure after takeoff at 500 feet. A successful return to the field was accomplished.