Narrative:

On a training flight I gave my student an engine failure about 300 ft AGL. He began to make a turn back towards the airport. I knew he would not have enough altitude to complete the turn, but I let him do so anyway without intervening. After about 60 degrees of heading change to the left, I found ourselves getting close to some hangars. I had to add power and perform a go around. There were some angry people at the airport, including my boss. I should have grabbed control of the aircraft immediately and told him to land straight ahead (which he knows now, of course). Now I will take corrective action much sooner. I guess I just wanted to show him that you cannot make a turn back at such a low altitude.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLT INSTRUCTOR IN A C172RG GAVE STUDENT A SIMULATED ENG OUT DURING INITIAL CLB AFTER TKOF AND HAD TO RECOVER WHEN THE STUDENT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE ARPT AT 300 FT AGL ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH ARPT HANGARS.

Narrative: ON A TRAINING FLT I GAVE MY STUDENT AN ENG FAILURE ABOUT 300 FT AGL. HE BEGAN TO MAKE A TURN BACK TOWARDS THE ARPT. I KNEW HE WOULD NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALT TO COMPLETE THE TURN, BUT I LET HIM DO SO ANYWAY WITHOUT INTERVENING. AFTER ABOUT 60 DEGS OF HDG CHANGE TO THE L, I FOUND OURSELVES GETTING CLOSE TO SOME HANGARS. I HAD TO ADD PWR AND PERFORM A GAR. THERE WERE SOME ANGRY PEOPLE AT THE ARPT, INCLUDING MY BOSS. I SHOULD HAVE GRABBED CTL OF THE ACFT IMMEDIATELY AND TOLD HIM TO LAND STRAIGHT AHEAD (WHICH HE KNOWS NOW, OF COURSE). NOW I WILL TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION MUCH SOONER. I GUESS I JUST WANTED TO SHOW HIM THAT YOU CANNOT MAKE A TURN BACK AT SUCH A LOW ALT.

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.