Date: 202010
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.ARTCC, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Night
Aircraft: PA-44 Seminole/Turbo Seminole
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Training
Flight phase: Cruise
Aircraft component: Engine
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: FBO
Reporter function: Instructor
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Troubleshooting
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: I flew the aircraft on the previous flight and everything was normal. On preflight; oil levels were normal. No issues were noted on run up. Everything seemed normal and I thought nothing of the flight. We took off from Runway XXL. We didn't level off until our cruise altitude of 7;000 ft. At that altitude the student ran the cruise check. We did offset our 65% cruise power setting for the 1% difference with an ISA (International Standard Atmosphere) of -12C. Shortly after the cruise checklist was complete we were handed off to ZZZ Center. At this point we were just passing ZZZ2. Then the EGT on the right engine began to roll back. It stopped around 1;000 degrees. I immediately checked the selectors; boost pumps; mags; turned on the alternate air and then went to the mixture to adjust it. I brought the mixtures to rich and the EGT went to 200 degrees. I then re-leaned the mixture and the engine momentarily went up to around 1;300 to 1;400 degrees. At that point the engine started running rough and then quit. We tried running the engine failure during flight non-memory items but that did not restart the engine. At that point I decided it was time to secure the engine to maximize our performance. I immediately requested priority handling with ATC before assigning my student the roll of PM (Pilot Monitoring). I identified and verified the right throttle; prop and mixture with him and our engine was then secured. At this point I coordinated with Center and was cleared back to ZZZ1 via a right or left hand turn. I turned to the left and we were then proceeding direct to ZZZ1. On the way back to ZZZ1; we conducted the non-memory items for the engine securing procedure. I then contacted the Dispatcher to inform him that we were coming back to ZZZ1 single engine and that we would like a tug to meet us on the runway. Due to strong winds out the northwest the flight back to ZZZ1 was long. This gave my student and me plenty of time to brief how our landing was going to work and coordinate what each of our responsibilities would be. On the flight back I did my best to maintain as much altitude as possible. With our performance we were able to maintain 6;000 ft. without issue. Around 20 miles from ZZZ1; Approach gave us a clearance to descend at pilot's discretion down to 3;000 ft. I maintained 6;000 ft. until we were approximately 10nm away from the airfield. At that point I began maneuvering to enter a four mile final for the visual Runway XXR. I also did the descent checklist at this time. Around 2;000 ft. on the base for the visual; I conducted the One Engine Inoperative landing check. I did not extend the gear until I was on a two mile final and landing was assured. From there I did my final call around 1;600 ft. and landed on Runway XXR around the 1;000 ft. markers. I let the aircraft roll out to the taxiway before coming to a stop. We then conducted the shutdown.




Synopsis: A PA-44 instructor reported an engine failure during a training flight and performed a successful return to departure airport.