During ramp check inspector discovers reporter's aircraft with expired temperature registration.

Attributes
ACN	295395
Time
Date	199502
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : pih
State Reference	ID
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-31 Navajo Chieftan/Mojave/Navajo T1020
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	ground : preflight
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 3700 flight time type : 75
ASRS Report	295395
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	observation : air carrier inspector
Qualification	other other : other
Events
Anomaly	non adherence : far other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : unspecified
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	faa : assigned or threatened penalties
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

As I was preparing for the second half of a cargo flight (early morning outbound, afternoon homebound), I was ramp checked by the FAA. I fly 1 of 2 company navajos. I had specifically checked the (registration, air worthiness, radio license) paperwork of the other navajo, but I had not looked this one over. All was in order except the registration. Only the 'pink copy' was on board and it had expired. The operator had failed to place the final registration onboard. A phone call to the operator's office did not locate the registration. Another application was made and the 'pink copy' was faxed to me and I completed the flight. It is not clear if this facsimile was satisfactory evidence of registration. I know it is the PIC's responsibility to ensure the aircraft is airworthy before flight, but in this case I had deferred to the operator to do their job, and provide an aircraft that has all the paperwork. In the future, I will review company aircraft files monthly so this will not happen again.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING RAMP CHK INSPECTOR DISCOVERS RPTR'S ACFT WITH EXPIRED TEMP REGISTRATION.

Narrative: AS I WAS PREPARING FOR THE SECOND HALF OF A CARGO FLT (EARLY MORNING OUTBOUND, AFTERNOON HOMEBOUND), I WAS RAMP CHKED BY THE FAA. I FLY 1 OF 2 COMPANY NAVAJOS. I HAD SPECIFICALLY CHKED THE (REGISTRATION, AIR WORTHINESS, RADIO LICENSE) PAPERWORK OF THE OTHER NAVAJO, BUT I HAD NOT LOOKED THIS ONE OVER. ALL WAS IN ORDER EXCEPT THE REGISTRATION. ONLY THE 'PINK COPY' WAS ON BOARD AND IT HAD EXPIRED. THE OPERATOR HAD FAILED TO PLACE THE FINAL REGISTRATION ONBOARD. A PHONE CALL TO THE OPERATOR'S OFFICE DID NOT LOCATE THE REGISTRATION. ANOTHER APPLICATION WAS MADE AND THE 'PINK COPY' WAS FAXED TO ME AND I COMPLETED THE FLT. IT IS NOT CLR IF THIS FAX WAS SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE OF REGISTRATION. I KNOW IT IS THE PIC'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THE ACFT IS AIRWORTHY BEFORE FLT, BUT IN THIS CASE I HAD DEFERRED TO THE OPERATOR TO DO THEIR JOB, AND PROVIDE AN ACFT THAT HAS ALL THE PAPERWORK. IN THE FUTURE, I WILL REVIEW COMPANY ACFT FILES MONTHLY SO THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.