Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 21400
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Inflight Shutdown; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
In cruise flight; First Officer (FO) pointed out oil quantity in right engine had decreased to 3 quarts.   Pressure and temperature normal but temperature rising.  No other abnormal indications; noise or vibration. Declared Emergency with Center. Referred to QRH: Oil Quantity Decreasing.  Due to rising temperature; followed on to Inflight Shutdown Checklist.  Completed checklist and discussed landing options.   [Our departure airport was] selected due to known good weather; adequate runway for overweight landing and [our] familiarity with arrival and surrounding terrain. Requested a turn direct to the airport from Center.  Advised Flight Attendants (FA) including TEST brief. Made PA to passengers about situation and return to the airport.Advised dispatch via free text message and coordinated with ATC for a gradual descent back [to the airport].Attempted contact with company and station operations but were unable via VHF.  Contacted tower and requested they call company ops.  Advised ZZZ tower of intentions and requested Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) equipment as a precaution. Planned and briefed single-engine; overweight; landing at appx. 140;500 pounds. Flew a VOR approach to visual approach with uneventful landing.  Parked on Pad and deplaned passengers to busses.
An MD-80 series aircraft flight crew shut down the right engine; and returned to their departure airport after recognizing there was low oil quantity and an associated high oil temperature.