Bill, you bring up an interesting point.

Years ago, I visited the Portland Me. GADO office, IGI written in hand, so
as to get the IGI rating added to my Ground instructor Certificate.

While I was there, the two FAA inspectors were discussing a pending
violation of one of the local pilots. His crime: He had just taken (and
passed) his ME checkride, BUT THE FAA forgot to add "Multiengine Land" to
his temporary certificate.
The pilot was caught during a ramp check without the appropriate rating for
the plane he was flying(a twin). Sure, the pilot was a dimbulb for not
noticing the discrepancy (pays $$ for a ME rating , passes, and no mention
of it on the new certificate!), but he was being violated for what was
ultimately an error by the FAA.

"BllFs6" wrote in message
...
What about this?

You hand an inspector your papers during a ramp check....

He stupidly takes or keeps something he has no legal right to....that you
cant
replace on the spot...

You are stuck in Middle of Nowhere, Crappy State USA....you and the plane
NEED
to get somewhere NOW....

You continue on your flight path to your destination....

Now youve shown up somewhere else WITHOUT a critical piece of paper....

WHO gets in trouble for not having the correct papers at the second ramp
check?

I no nutin about piloting....and an inspector would have to be real jerk
before
I'd be anything but polite, helpful, and respectable....

but I'm not sure I'd physically let go of any critical piece of paperwork
I
needed either...

As they say...."possesion is 9/10ths of the law"

take care

Blll