Date: 201808
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: Small Aircraft; Low Wing; 1 Eng; Retractable Gear
Operator: Personal
Operating under: Part 91
Flight plan: VFR
Mission: Personal
Flight phase: Initial Approach
ATC / advisory: Tower ZZZ
Aircraft component: Electrical Power
Component problem: Failed
Reporter organization: Personal
Reporter function: Single Pilot
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Human factors: Troubleshooting
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: I filed a VFR flight plan from ZZZ and had an uneventful departure. At [my destination airport]; I performed 6 full stop landings; refueled; and; flew back. Before crossing [a local waterway]; I received information Papa at [the departure airport]; reported over [a wildlife viewing spot] to [the departure's airport] Tower; and was instructed to report over [an] airstrip. Over [the] airstrip; I reported my position to ZZZ Tower; began a descent to 900 feet and was instructed by ZZZ Tower to report crossing [a] road. Before the road reporting point; I noticed all my radio panel went 'dark;' meaning I had lost two way radio contact ability. I immediately turned back to [the] airstrip; squawked 7600; climbed to 1;500 feet and proceeded to [the wildlife viewing spot]; and then east up [the waterway]; ascertained an electrical failure; manually put the landing gear down; contacted by cellular phone FSS; advised of my situation and position; stayed on the phone with FSS; who passed on to me instructions from ATC and ZZZ Tower.Following ZZZ Tower instructions relayed to me by FSS via my cellular phone; I flew back to [the wildlife viewing spot] to [the] airstrip; and via a left base to Runway XX at ZZZ; did the instructed low approach (was advised that ZZZ Tower saw my three landing gear down) followed by left traffic to [Runway] XX for a landing. Upon touch down; the main gear remained up; and upon touching the tailwheel down; as it was not locked (required electrical power); I had to use engine power and elevator to taxi with the tail wheel off the ground; exited at [a taxiway]; taxied on; shut down the engine; exited airplane after shut down; met the emergency support and ZZZ Ground Support teams; and; followed instructions until cleared by ZZZ Tower to have my aircraft towed by ZZZ Airport Staff Truck my hangar position. Later in the day; I was contacted by FAA Personnel and gave him a verbal report of the events summarized above.During the entire flight; I remained in VFR conditions; and; except for 'breaking off' the initial VFR approach to Runway XX ZZZ; before crossing [the] road reporting point to turn back to [the] Airstrip reporting point; I followed all of ZZZ Tower instructions (I made an instantaneous decision to abort the approach to ZZZ just before the [the] road reporting point; to have time and airspace to trouble shoot the electrical problem and to manually place my landing gear down).




Synopsis: Globe Swift pilot reported electrical failure resulting in communication failure. Pilot established cell phone communications with ATC.