CAPT OF CPR ACFT CHARGED WITH FLYING AN UNAIRWORTHY ACFT.

Narrative

UPON REACHING CUSTOMS; ENTERING INTO THE COUNTRY; AT FORT PIERCE; I WAS ASKED FOR THE 337 FORM ON A FUEL TANK MODIFICATION. I PRODUCED THE 337 FORM WHICH I WAS GIVEN BY THE MAINT FACILITY WHERE IT WAS INSTALLED. THE CUSTOMS OFFICIAL THEN POINTED OUT THAT THE FORM WAS INCOMPLETE. THIS FACT I HAD NOT REALIZED. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO CONTACT THE FAA FOR RECORD OF THE 337 FORM. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF THE FORM BEING FILED. I WAS THEN CHARGED BY THE CUSTOMS OFFICIALS THAT I WAS FLYING AN UNAIRWORTHY ACFT; AND WAS TOLD CERTIFICATE ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN. WE TOOK THE PLANE LAST JUNE; TO AN AUTHORIZED MAINT FACILITY TO HAVE THE FUEL ADAPTER IN QUESTION INSTALLED ON THE ACFT. IT WAS INSTALLED AND ALL PROPER LOGBOOK ENTRIES WERE MADE. SOMETIME LATER THE MAINT DIRECTOR OF THE FACILITY CONTACTED ME BY PHONE AND IN OUR DISCUSSION NOTED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE CERTIFICATION OF THE PART. HE ASKED ME TO RETURN TO THE FACILITY AT MY LEISURE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I INTENDED TO DO SO UPON MY NEXT VISIT TO THE AREA; OR UPON THE NEED OF FURTHER MAINT. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE HE DID NOT INDICATE TO ME THAT THE ACFT WAS UNAIRWORTHY. THE FACILITY CLAIMS TO HAVE SENT A LETTER TO THE EFFECT OF IMMEDIATE ACTION ON THE REMOVAL OF THE FUEL FILLER ADAPTER. I DID NOT RECEIVE THE LATER. I WASN'T AWARE OF THE PROCESS AND PROCS OF ALTERATIONS ON AN ACFT; MAINLY THE IMPORTANCE OF A PROPERLY FILLED OUT AND FILED 337 FORM. I DO NOT FEEL THAT THE CONVERSATION WITH THE MAINT DIRECTOR REFLECTED THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION EITHER. I KNOW THAT IGNORANCE OF SUCH PROCS IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR THE NEGLIGENCE OF PIC RESPONSIBILITIES I SHOWED; BUT A CERTIFIED LETTER AND REQUIREMENT OF WRITTEN RESPONSE OR PROOF OF A LCL A AND P MECH REMOVING THE PART WOULD HAVE AVOIDED ALL OF THIS UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT. FURTHERMORE; THE FAA UPON DECLINING THE 337 FORM SHOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE OWNER OPERATOR OF THE UNAIRWORTHY STATUS OF THE ACFT THIS WAS NOT DONE.