Narrative:

I was giving my student landing instruction. On our first landing approach to runway 11R, when turning right to base, student released back pressure letting the nose drop. This caused an altitude loss. Aircraft confign was 10 degree flaps, engine tach 1700 RPM, carburetor heat on in an small aircraft. I had the student level off using back pressure on the yoke and additional power. I estimate our altitude was about 100' when 1/2 mi from the approach end of runway 11R. To my surprise, the tower controller contacted us immediately to advise us of low altitude and asked if conditions were adverse. I explained that meteorological conditions were fine and that this was a training flight and the student was learning to land the aircraft. I was embarrassed by this incident, but at no time did I feel we were in imminent danger. I was impressed (and surprised) that the tower was able to recognize such a situation. With mode C (which we had in operation, of course) perhaps the controller's system can report low altitude incidents--or perhaps the tower controller was watching us. We continued in touch and go's, doing a total of 9, west/O further altitude deviations of this nature.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: LCL CTLR MAKES INQUIRY WHEN TRAINING SMA WITH INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT DESCENDS TO 100' AGL ONE-HALF MILE FINAL.

Narrative: I WAS GIVING MY STUDENT LNDG INSTRUCTION. ON OUR FIRST LNDG APCH TO RWY 11R, WHEN TURNING RIGHT TO BASE, STUDENT RELEASED BACK PRESSURE LETTING THE NOSE DROP. THIS CAUSED AN ALT LOSS. ACFT CONFIGN WAS 10 DEG FLAPS, ENG TACH 1700 RPM, CARB HEAT ON IN AN SMA. I HAD THE STUDENT LEVEL OFF USING BACK PRESSURE ON THE YOKE AND ADDITIONAL PWR. I ESTIMATE OUR ALT WAS ABOUT 100' WHEN 1/2 MI FROM THE APCH END OF RWY 11R. TO MY SURPRISE, THE TWR CTLR CONTACTED US IMMEDIATELY TO ADVISE US OF LOW ALT AND ASKED IF CONDITIONS WERE ADVERSE. I EXPLAINED THAT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE FINE AND THAT THIS WAS A TRNING FLT AND THE STUDENT WAS LEARNING TO LAND THE ACFT. I WAS EMBARRASSED BY THIS INCIDENT, BUT AT NO TIME DID I FEEL WE WERE IN IMMINENT DANGER. I WAS IMPRESSED (AND SURPRISED) THAT THE TWR WAS ABLE TO RECOGNIZE SUCH A SITUATION. WITH MODE C (WHICH WE HAD IN OPERATION, OF COURSE) PERHAPS THE CTLR'S SYS CAN RPT LOW ALT INCIDENTS--OR PERHAPS THE TWR CTLR WAS WATCHING US. WE CONTINUED IN TOUCH AND GO'S, DOING A TOTAL OF 9, W/O FURTHER ALT DEVIATIONS OF THIS NATURE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.