PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga/6X
Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors
I took a hand off [Aircraft X] from ZZZ ARTCC; who is VFR heading North/Northwest bound at 10;500. When the aircraft checked in; I asked him what his destination was. At first his transmission came in garbled; so I told him I didn't understand anything he said. So with an attitude he responded; ZZZ1 Airport. So I thanked him. As I was trying to control another aircraft on a photo mission; Aircraft X kept on stepping on the transmissions. I told Aircraft X that I wasn't talking to him and to stand by. Once I was done talking with the Aircraft Y; I returned to Aircraft X and asked him if he had any questions. He apologized saying he thought I was speaking to him earlier when he kept stepping on the other aircraft's transmissions. So I asked him how much longer he was going to stay at that altitude. He responded by saying in about three minutes. Some time went by and I told Aircraft X to descend VFR to 8;500. He responded with leaving 10;500 for 8;500. In my scan I did see him descending. Controlled some other aircraft and went back to his Data Tag. His Data Tag wasn't displaying his altitude readout from his Mode-C. So I called Aircraft X to squawk  altitude. I get a click in response. I waited to see if his altitude would show up so I could verify it; but nothing. So I called him again a couple of times and no response. Then the Data Tag went into CST then dropped off my scope. Then about 2 miles ahead of his dropped Data Tag; an aircraft squawked 7700. I tried reaching out to him; but no answer. The Controller working the other departure that had taken my hand off of Aircraft X tried him on guard with no response as well. I asked a nearby aircraft who was closest to Aircraft X; to try and raise him on the frequency; and nothing. Finally the Controller working the other departure finally got the aircraft to IDENT. From there; the other Controller finally got two way radio communications; an asked for details regarding the nature of emergency and offered different airports close by for landing. Apparently the pilot refused and wanted to fly back to his his departure airport approximately 50 miles away passing 9 airports on his way.
TRACON Controller described a somewhat confused emergency event when a general aviation aircraft failed to respond to ATC requests and finally initiated a 7700 squawk. The reporter indicated the aircraft passed multiple landing opportunities.