Tim,

Do you have any evidence or knowledge of any pilot who has ever had an FAA inspector take and keep (or attempt to keep) the pilot's certificate when the pilot handed it over as part of a ramp check or other request to examine the certificate?

I've been trying for over 20 years to find someone this has happened to. It seems to be an urban myth that won't die.

Under the FARs you cannot "surrender" your certificate in any way other than in writing - and the writing has to have some very specific language in it. The FAA regional counsel I asked about the subject said that if he ever heard of any inspector attempting to keep a pilot's certificate under a pretext of surrender or any other fashion, the inspector's next job assignment would be in Nome, if he were lucky.

FAR 61.27 Voluntary Surrender or Exchange of Certificate
(a) The holder of a certificate issued under this part may voluntarily surrender it for:

(1) Cancellation;

(2) Issuance of a lower grade certificate; or

(3) Another certificate with specific ratings deleted.

(b) Any request made under paragraph (a) of this section must include the following signed statement or its equivalent: “This request is made for my own reasons, with full knowledge that my (insert name of certificate or rating, as appropriate) may not be reissued to me unless I again pass the tests prescribed for its issuance.”

I've run across my share of excellent, mediocre and crummy FAA employees. I've filed a complaint about one and although it didn't get him fired, it helped get him transferred. The FAA has a job of enforcement and improving safety. It is not your friend, although it can provide a heck of a lot of good information. Any dealing with the FAA in which there is any question of a violation of a regulation of competence to operate an airplane should be done with great caution. That being said, there are many things to worry about when dealing with the FAA, I don't think that having an inspector attempt to keep your certificate is one of them. We need to focus on worrying about the right things.

Best regards,
Rick