Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 90; Flight Crew Total 236; Flight Crew Type 236
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Aircraft; Human Factors
I lost all electrical power in my aircraft. The radios began to go first; and I advised ATC I may lose contact. Eventually all of the radios failed and I squawked 7600. Once I noticed that all my lighting outside the aircraft failed; I felt increasingly more unsafe. I squawked 7700 as I turned toward ZZZ; the most well-lit [airport] around me. I visually identified the direction of arrivals and departures and stayed well out of the way. I circled over the downtown area until I could get a hold of someone on the cell phone (911; TRACON; tower etc). Eventually 911 relayed my number to the tower and the tower called me. Once the airport was mine; I landed uneventfully. My primary concerns with this emergency were:1. Get to a well-lit area where I could be seen.2. Get to an area with the most services available in the case of additional failures. 3. Have a long runway available for a no-flap landing.4. I had zero cell service at [my] location. I did not get service until I was approaching the [metropolitan] area. My only form of communication was my cell phone; so this was a big factor.The following days were uneventful; and I also departed uneventfully.  On the way out to fly the plane to where repairs could be made; I lost my radios again. I had been able to depart the airport and most of the airspace legally; with two-way radio communication as well as Mode C reporting equipment. Once that failed; I expected another call from TRACON; and of course I got it. The controller was very nice and understanding and was glad I got to my destination safely. It appears this occurrence wasn't a very big deal; however; I am expecting to do a lot of paperwork over the first incident. What I learned from the incident:1. Don't get short sighted. I did not consider the nearby Class C and D airports because I had fixated only on getting to [the nearby large airport]. In hindsight; it may have been less of a hassle to divert to a less busy airport.2. I would have preferred not to clog up [the large airport]. In my decision making; this was obviously a factor; but I was not so concerned at the time with clogging up the airport as I was with getting to a well-lit area. Next time; I will take this into consideration.3. I will be buying a hand-held radio after this incident. A hand-held radio would have negated a lot of uncertainty on my end; as well as ATC's end. If I was in contact with someone; perhaps a controller suggestion would have helped avoid a diversion to the big busy Bravo airport. If I was in contact with someone; I would have felt much more calm and would have given myself space to think.
C172 pilot reported diverting to a large international airport after experiencing communication failure related to loss of electrical power.