PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Flight Crew Flight Instructor
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
On the missed from practice approach; we were leveled at 2;000 ft. getting vectors to final for the next approach - when suddenly; banging noise was heard from the engine as well as vibrations. All the engine instruments were green. I asked to cancel the practice approach and wanted to go back to ZZZ. At the time we were 7 NM southwest of the field.Upon contacting the Tower I requested for a full stop landing on Runway XX. Since winds were 210 / 05 kts. with few to no traffic at the time; Tower accepted my request. I then informed Tower of my engine trouble [and] Tower asked me [about] souls on board and fuel remaining. After giving the information we lined up for a 3 mile final [on] Runway XX and landed safely with no incidents. We taxied back on our own power back to the Ramp. Once we had shut down the engine; upon opening of the cowling we saw [that the] exhaust pipe of Cylinder #3 broken. We squawk'd the plane.
Flight Instructor reported encountering engine anomalies on approach and returned to the departure airport.