Narrative:

Before departing; a local a&P cleaned off the alternator which resolved an electrical generating problem. The alternator was generating power; but instead of continuing on to our original destination; I decided to return to [home airport]; so the plane's normal a&P can take off the alternator and decide if further maintenance was required. During the flight; the generator failed again; or there was a different issue with the radios. I tried calling the tower using both the hand-held radio and the plane's own radio; neither worked. I squawked 7600; entered the airspace; flew over the field and entered a left downwind for landing.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A C172 pilot reported losing contact with the Tower; either because of radio or electrical system malfunctions. He squawked 7600 and landed.

Narrative: Before departing; a local A&P cleaned off the alternator which resolved an electrical generating problem. The alternator was generating power; but instead of continuing on to our original destination; I decided to return to [home airport]; so the plane's normal A&P can take off the alternator and decide if further maintenance was required. During the flight; the generator failed again; or there was a different issue with the radios. I tried calling the Tower using both the hand-held radio and the plane's own radio; neither worked. I squawked 7600; entered the airspace; flew over the field and entered a left downwind for landing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.