C210 pilot reported an electrical system failure led to a return to the departure airport.

Attributes
ACN	1596818
Time
Date	201811
Local Time Of Day	1201-1800
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.TRACON
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Cessna 210 Centurion / Turbo Centurion 210C 210D
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Electrical Power
Person 1
Function	Single Pilot Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Private
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5 Flight Crew Total 170 Flight Crew Type 22
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical

Narrative:

Electrical system failure; suspected alternator or alternator belt resulted in loss of number 1 nav/com and subsequent loss of all electric avionics and instruments. [I] was able to squawk 7600 and confirm with ATC center; but could only receive and not transmit due to number 2 nav/com insufficient power to transmit. [I] did [a] 180 degree turn and proceeded back to ZZZ origination airport in VMC using handheld GPS for navigation. Contact via phone approach and subsequently tower and obtained clearance for a low approach to runway xx at ZZZ to verify manual gear extension and then flew a successful no-flap landing. Spoke with tower via phone after landing and confirmed no need for further action or reporting.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C210 pilot reported an electrical system failure led to a return to the departure airport.

Narrative: Electrical system failure; suspected alternator or alternator belt resulted in loss of Number 1 Nav/Com and subsequent loss of all electric avionics and instruments. [I] was able to Squawk 7600 and confirm with ATC Center; but could only receive and not transmit due to Number 2 Nav/Com insufficient power to transmit. [I] did [a] 180 degree turn and proceeded back to ZZZ origination airport in VMC using handheld GPS for navigation. Contact via phone Approach and subsequently Tower and obtained clearance for a low approach to RWY XX at ZZZ to verify manual gear extension and then flew a successful no-flap landing. Spoke with Tower via phone after landing and confirmed no need for further action or reporting.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.