PLT OF AN SMA SINGLE ENG LAND ACFT PENETRATED AN ARSA ON CLBOUT DUE TO LOSING ALL RADIO COM. IN ADDITION; SUBSEQUENTLY RAN INTO CLOUDS; TURNED BACK AND BECAME DISORIENTED DUE TO NO RADIO NAV ABILITY AND THEN REQUESTED AND RECEIVED A FLT ASSIST BACK TO INTENDED COURSE.

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ON LNDG AT NIGHT AT TOLEDO METCALF FOR FUEL; DISCOVERED ELECTRICAL SHORT WITH SMOKE AND HEAT FROM AROUND LNDG LIGHT SWITCH. ISOLATED PROB TO SWITCH AND REFRAINED FROM USING LNDG LIGHT ON TKOF AFTER PULLING LNDG LIGHT BREAKER. AFTER TKOF; FAILED IN ATTEMPT TO CONTACT ZOB OR OTHER APCH TO ACTIVATE IFR FLT PLAN TO 3MY AT PEORIA; IL. ESTABLISHED 240 DEG HDG AND BEGAN TROUBLESHOOTING AND FOUND NO XMIT FROM COM 1 OR 2. ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT ATC WITH HANDHELD AND FAILED EXCEPT TO HEAR 'REMAIN CLR OF TOLEDO AIRSPACE.' TRIED VARIOUS COMBINATIONS OF INTERCOM TO ESTABLISH XMIT CAPABILITY WITH NO LUCK. ALSO; COULD NOT LOCATE/IDENT ANY VOR WITH WHICH TO NAV ON NAV 1 OR 2. HAD LORAN; BUT FAILED TO PROGRAM CORRECTLY SINCE RENTAL PLANE AND UNFAMILIAR WITH OP. RAN INTO CLOUDS AT 6500 MSL AND HAD TO EXECUTE 180 DEG TO REMAIN VMC. DURING PROCESS; MANAGED TO GET LOST ALTHOUGH CAVU FOR MOST PART. ATTEMPTED TO IDENT VISUALLY ARPTS TO ESTABLISH FIX AND AFTER FLYING WITHIN 4-5 MI OF DAYTON (IN RETROSPECT) DECIDED TO SQUAWK 7600 AND FIGURED OUT THAT LNDG LIGHT BREAKER DISABLED XMIT. MANAGED TO CONTACT IND APCH WHO SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ME BUT DAYTON DID. ASKED FOR RADAR VECTORS TO 3MY; WHICH ALL CTL FACILITIES GLADLY PROVIDED TO UNEVENTFUL LNDG AT 3MY. RADIO COM/NAV CAME ALIVE DURING FINAL LEGS TO 3MY.