UNITED STATES GOV INSPECTORS FOUND A PIPER PA30 DID NOT HAVE THE PROPER AND COMPLETED PAPERWORK FOR ITS FERRY FLT INTO THE USA FROM OUT OF THE COUNTRY. THE RPTING OWNER FOUND THE SIT VERY DIFFICULT AFTER PAYING FOREIGN MECHS AND MAINT FACILITIES TO PUT THE ACFT IN ACCEPTABLE EXPORT SIGNOFF; AND CONDITION; FOR FERRY FLT INTO THE UNITED STATES.

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ACFT WAS PURCHASED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR USE IN THE UNITED STATES. TO PREPARE IT FOR THE FLT TO THE UNITED STATES; A UNITED KINGDOM MAINT ORGANIZATION WITH AN FAA A&P/IA (I DIDN'T CHK HIS LICENSE) PERFORMED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND REQUESTED A FERRY PERMIT. AS I RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES; AFTER BUYING THE PLANE; I WAS UNABLE TO OVERSEE ANY MAINT ACTIONS. THEY INSTALLED FERRY TANKS; BUT DUE TO SOME CONFUSION OVER APPLICABLE REGS AND AS THE ANTICIPATED LEGS WERE ONLY 600+ MI; I REQUESTED THE FERRY TANKS BE REMOVED. THE MAINT COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT ALL WORK AND DOCUMENTATION WERE COMPLETE. A VERY LARGE BILL WAS PAID; AND THE PLT DEPARTED FOR THE UNITED STATES. AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE ENRTE CAUSED A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG AND THE ACFT AGAIN ENTERED MAINT WITH ANOTHER ORGANIZATION. AFTER 5 MONTHS DELAY AND EXTENSIVE WORK; THE ACFT WAS AGAIN PRESENTED AS READY FOR THE FLT WITH APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS. A VERY LARGE BILL WAS PAID AND THE ACFT WAS FLOWN TO THE UNITED STATES. DURING THE ENTIRE TIME I WAS IN THE UNITED STATES ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THE PLANE MADE AIRWORTHY VIA TRANSATLANTIC PHONE CALLS. IN THIS TIME I DEALT WITH AN ENDLESS NUMBER OF MECHS; TECHNICIANS AND MGRS WHOM I ASSUMED TO BE COMPETENT. UPON ARR IN THE UNITED STATES; THE CUSTOMS INSPECTOR POINTED OUT THAT PLUMBING FOR A FERRY TANK WAS STILL INSTALLED WITH NO -337 AND THAT OTHER PAPERWORK; INCLUDING THE FERRY PERMIT; WERE NOT COMPLETED TO HIS SATISFACTION. CORRECTIVE ACTION: WHEN AN ACFT IS RELEASED FROM MAJOR MAINT; THE OWNER SHOULD BE PRESENT AND CONFIRM IN PERSON THAT ALL REQUIRED WORK AND DOCUMENTATION HAS BEEN COMPLETED TO INCLUDE ANNUALS AND; IN THIS CASE; 337'S AND FERRY PERMITS. DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE COMPLETE AND ACCURATE AND THE WORKMENS' LICENSES SHOULD BE CHKED. EVEN THOUGH PROPERLY LICENSED; THE MAINT ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTED AT FACE VALUE.