Date: 202007
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: SR20
Operator: FBO
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class D ZZZ
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Engine
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: FBO
Reporter function: Instructor
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Workload
Second reporter function: Trainee
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: My student and I were doing a lesson and it called for pattern work. We did a soft field take off and started to execute the climb out. The aircraft climbed out but was a little sluggish. At this point I took controls of the aircraft and got us back onto the runway heading; and obtained a Vy attitude; because it had seemed like the pitch and attitude of the aircraft my student had it in was causing the aircraft to not climb at a true Vy rate. Trying to pitch for Vy with this slow climb caused the plane to drift slightly left of runway heading; which we got back onto. We were then told to state intentions and let them know we were correcting to continue onto the upwind. We then landed and did a touch and go and started the climb out; this time our climb performance being even worse; around 1200 MSL we were barely holding a climb rate of 200fpm. At this point I felt like the issue we were having was not related to my students takeoff and pitch; and more so an issue with the engine. I took controls again at this point and immediately checked out the engine instruments. The MAP; percent power; as well as RPM was all good and all other instruments checked out. We worked together and referenced the standby instruments as well. Once I checked all of that and the aircraft was still struggling to climb at a Vy rate; I let Tower know we were having an issue and could not maintain a safe climb rate; and [requested priority handling]. We let him know XXL was fine and safely made it onto the ground. Post flight showed no obvious signs of damage or anything external on the aircraft that would have caused the issue. Preflight was all normal with the proper amount of fuel as well as oil. At the time of run up and getting the current ATIS; the winds were nearly right down our runway XXL. Upon landing I noticed the winds had shifted more towards runway XY and believe that this possibly could have been a factor.


Second narrative: I was the pilot flying on a commercial SE add on training flight. We commenced takeoff; rotated; and climbed out normally initially. At about 200 AGL; speed was not building; all while engine was verified at full power. Speed after flap retraction did not increase; and VSI was showing 0-150 fpm and we cleared a patch of trees about a mile from the runway at about 200 ft. above them. We steadily gained airspeed after and climbed up to TPA [of] 2000 ft.; and did a touch and go thinking it was a one-off issue. On ensuing climb out; the climb issue was prevalent once again; and this time we [requested priority handling]. We made it on the ground safely and taxied back to the ramp under our own power. Throughout the runup and taxi; engine and primary and backups all displayed within tolerances and within spec. We reported the issue to maintenance and filled out both this report and [a company safety] report.


Synopsis: Flight Instructor and student reported terminating flight due to decreased aircraft performance during pattern work.