PA28 instructor pilot experiences a power failure at 50 ft AGL with the student at the controls. The...

Attributes
ACN	1113332
Time
Date	201309
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Powerplant Fuel System
Person 1
Function	Instructor Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25 Flight Crew Total 255 Flight Crew Type 220
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue

Narrative:

The student and I conducted a complete pre flight of the aircraft and all procedures appeared normal. However; upon sumping the engine sump for fuel; the butterfly clip may have gotten stuck on the cowling. However this was easily overlooked as no more fuel was spilling from the sump. Normal startup; taxi and runup procedures were performed and no abnormalities occurred. Upon takeoff total power loss was encountered at about 50 ft AGL. I; the instructor; immediately took over and safely landed the aircraft on grass inside airport property. No damage was inflicted on the aircraft; airport property; or beings during the event. The cause of the power loss is still unknown; however I can say I learned a valuable lesson. A thorough preflight is key to a safe flight. Checking all engine components is required and cannot be overlooked.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA28 Instructor Pilot experiences a power failure at 50 FT AGL with the student at the controls. The Instructor takes control and successfully lands on airport property with no damage to airport or aircraft. Fuel starvation is suspected.

Narrative: The student and I conducted a complete pre flight of the aircraft and all procedures appeared normal. However; upon sumping the engine sump for fuel; the butterfly clip may have gotten stuck on the cowling. However this was easily overlooked as no more fuel was spilling from the sump. Normal startup; taxi and runup procedures were performed and no abnormalities occurred. Upon takeoff total power loss was encountered at about 50 FT AGL. I; the Instructor; immediately took over and safely landed the aircraft on grass inside airport property. No damage was inflicted on the aircraft; airport property; or beings during the event. The cause of the power loss is still unknown; however I can say I learned a valuable lesson. A thorough preflight is key to a safe flight. Checking ALL engine components is required and cannot be overlooked.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

PA28 instructor pilot experiences a power failure at 50 ft AGL with the student at the controls. The instructor takes control and successfully lands on airport property with no damage to airport or aircraft. Fuel starvation is suspected.