Can you make the 180º turn back to the airport in the event of an engine failure in a single-engine airplane?  This is a subject that is much discussed.  There is little time to start making decisions once the engine fails at low altitude, especially when you are in a nose high attitude.  One idea is to break the takeoff into altitudes with a planned action for each.  0 – 500′ AGL? Go straight ahead.  500′ – 1000′ – Your path opens to 45º each side of straight ahead.  Above 1000′?  Turn back.  This is simple, and every takeoff is different so the pilot should brief his plan for each departure.  I find many pilots overestimate their ability to get back to the runway.  Practicing at altitude doesn’t take into account the effect of the ground rushing up at you!  Check out the takeoff above.  This was in my Cessna 170B, but the profile is for a DA-40.  The ForeFlight™ Glide Advisor, noted in the green, depicts the furthest point that you could glide with the proper technique.  The GPS altitude at the bottom right is pretty close to AGL as this airport (KPHF) is close to sea level.  So about 300′ doesn’t look good for turning around.  The screenshot below is about 500′, and still, the glide doesn’t look too promising for a turn back

towards the airport.  This is a long runway, and I continued down the field before climbing to simulate a “normal” single-engine land airport in which we would cross the departure at maybe 300′ – 400′ or so. Consider your situation, where would you go when your engine quits at your airport?  And at what altitude would you make the 180º turn?