I have a tricky issue I need help.
Currently, I work in Florida as an FAA Flight Instructor.
I currently have five students PPL in a Cessna 172 and made a big mistake that could cost me the job.
During Engine Out Procedures, I have a couple of times with each student, flown below the minimum safe altitude of 500 ft. My student did this on his 141-EOC with the Chief Pilot at school, and now I'm temporarily suspended from the position of my anticipation of a formal meeting with the school.
As you probably know, Florida is relatively flat, and when I have done Engine Out Procedures of open and flat fields, I have always made sure that there have been buildings, power lines, animals or people nearby.
Quote 91.119 (c) of Other Than Congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely Populated areas. In Those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.
Based on the definition of "sparsely Populated Areas", I can say that I have not done anything wrong?