What was found
AFTER PREFLIGHT PLANNING, ACFT DOCUMENT & AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTION & NORMAL STARTS, ACFT DEPARTED. AFTER UNEVENTFUL 1.6 HR FLIGHT, ACFT LANDED, TOOK ON 117 GALS JET A FROM FUEL TRUCK. AFTER APPROX 40 MINUTES, ANOTHER PREFLIGHT & UNEVENTFUL STARTS, DEPARTED PASSING THROUGH 7200 FEET. 3 LOUD POPS IN RAPID SUCCESSION & SIMULTANEOUS NR 1 ENG CHIP LIGHT EXPERIENCED BY PILOT. AS PILOT QUICKLY REDUCED POWER ON NR 1 ENG, THE ENG FAILED & ROLLED BACK. THERE WAS NO HIGH TEMP OF FIRE INDICATIONS. THE NEAREST AIRPORT WAS 6.6 MILES AND 4001 FT MSL, BUT REQUIRED CLIMBING OVER A RIDGELINE, PILOT DECIDED TO TURN BACK. POST ENG FAILURE TO UNEVENTFUL LANDING AT AIRPORT SEQUENCE TOOK APPROX 14 MINUTES.