Cessna 340/340A
Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 4; Flight Crew Total 1671; Flight Crew Type 376
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
I was climbing through 6000 ft on my way up to my final altitude of 16000 ft. Just prior to or at 6000 ft I heard a loud pop come from the left engine followed by a near complete RPM loss on the left engine. I disengaged the autopilot and maintained directional control in a 140 knot sustained climb. At that point I determined the best course of action was to shut down and secure the engine; which I accomplished without issue. After the airplane was stable I called ATC. They asked if I would like to return to [departure airport]; which I agreed to. Once I had the airport in sight they handed me over to the Tower. At that point I was 13 NM north of the field. Tower asked which runway I would prefer; I checked the wind with them and it was light and nearly a straight crosswind for either so I chose to do a straight in. They asked if I required any further assistance; which I declined as the airplane was under control. Once the landing was assured I lowered the landing gear and made an uneventful single engine landing. On the taxi back to the FBO an airport service vehicle checked to see if I was leaking any fluids which I was not and continued to the ramp and parked. The only thing that was not by the book was that the flight plan was filed for 2 passengers and there were 3 aboard at the time of the incident.
C340 pilot reported returning to the departure airport after shutting down the left engine in flight.