Engine faliure on takeoff

[Flygirl]

I know, we're all told not to do a 180, but we had enough altitude. Just. The alternatives were a heavily wooded area (lots of evergreen trees with thick trunks) and a flooded rice field.

I figured, even if we don't make the runway, most anywhere on the airport grounds would be better than either of those. I was aiming for the grass in pretty much any direction, but winds were calm and I was able to fly us back to the runway.

As far as why this happened, the initial thought was ignition problems, possibly a faulty mag drive (this aircraft has an engine with twin mags in the same case, driven by a single shaft). But the remote location of the airport is making slow going of maintenance and I still haven't heard the verdict.

I think what I'm most thankful for is that my student was okay. Me too, of course, but these guys are my responsibility. He texted last night with many thanks...and to ask when I'm going to get a Cobra! Said that life was too short to wait forever. And I think he's got a good point.

Me? I've felt blessed for many years—and not deserving of it—and this reinforced that belief.