Date: 202101
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Weather elements / visibility: 10
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: SR22
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: None
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class D ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Aircraft component: Reciprocating Engine Assembly
Component problem: Malfunctioning
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Evacuated; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: For information; this Cirrus SR22T has about only 40 total hours frame/engine.  After a normal pre-flight; normal start up; taxi; takeoff and climb without any issue or indication of trouble; About 9-10 minutes after departing ZZZ; and just leveling at 7;500 feet; I set the engine parameters to cruise settings. Looking at my PFD information I noticed I was 15 NM from ZZZ at this time. Suddenly I heard a 'thump' noise coming out of the engine; immediately followed by a loss of power of about 25%-30%.  I immediately initiated a 180 degree turn towards ZZZ. After the turn; I confirmed oil indications were in the green; I switched fuel tank; I engage [the] high boost fuel pump; but nothing changed as far as engine power; RPM kept dropping slowing.  I contacted ZZZ and informed the controller that I was experiencing engine troubles and returning to ZZZ. Control clear me for VFR decent and handed me over to ZZZ Tower. I could maintain altitude but I had a constant low rate of decent of 300 feet-400 feet. I decided to stay as high as I could until short final into ZZZ. Because I was coming directly from the north I planned on a short approach. I tried to move the throttle to full power but wasn't getting any change in rpm. At that time I decided that if I wasn't going to be able to maintain altitude to make it to the runway; as I reach the shoreline; I would activate the BRS/CAPS (Cirrus Airframe Parachute System) of the Cirrus. I had enough altitude though and made it to base; heard another thumping noise from the engine; landed safely.  Tower told me while taxiing that there was a lot of smoke coming out of the bottom of the pane; the Fire Department Captain of the CFR (crash fire rescue) crew who was following me during taxi came up on the radio and told me smoke was increasing and advised to stop the engine immediately. I had reached the FBO ramp at that point. There was lots of oil dripping from all the front of the aircraft and after first quick observation with the manager of the maintenance facility in ZZZ we noticed pieces of the turbo lodged at the top of the right exhaust pipe. At this point; Cirrus Aircraft has taken over the process to find out what happened with this Continental TSIO-550K. They have informed us that the right side turbo shaft sheared off and pieces went through the engine and oil system. The engine is supposed to be sent to Continental for further analysis.




Synopsis: SR22 pilot reported engine problems requiring a return to departure airport.