Yes, There May Be Regulatory and Criminal Penalties
Depending on the particulars of your case, you may have to pay fees totally into the tens of thousands of dollars (if not more).
Additionally, may be subject to criminal penalties as well.
The best course of action is to make sure that you are in compliance with the authorities.
Use this following link to apply for plane registration.
Laws Regarding Plane Registration Penalties and More
Aircraft owners across the country can rely on the National Aviation Center to locate and complete the documentation needed for their aircraft. Whether your goal is registration, renewal, transfer, or addressing other documentation requirements, we provide a streamlined process with all forms available here. That way, you don’t have to worry about penalties.
You may find the following laws relevant to your needs:
(b)General Criminal Penalty.—Except as provided by subsection (c) of this section, a person shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 3 years, or both, if the person—
(1)knowingly and willfully forges or alters a certificate authorized to be issued under this part;
(2)knowingly sells, uses, attempts to use, or possesses with the intent to use, such a certificate;
(3)knowingly and willfully displays or causes to be displayed on an aircraft a mark that is false or misleading about the nationality or registration of the aircraft;
(4)obtains a certificate authorized to be issued under this part by knowingly and willfully falsifying or concealing a material fact, making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement, or making or using a false document knowing it contains a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry;
(5)owns an aircraft eligible for registration under section 44102 of this title and knowingly and willfully operates, attempts to operate, or allows another person to operate the aircraft when—
(A)the aircraft is not registered under section 44103 of this title or the certificate of registration is suspended or revoked; or
(B)the owner knows or has reason to know that the other person does not have proper authorization to operate or navigate the aircraft without registration for a period of time after transfer of ownership;
(6)knowingly and willfully operates or attempts to operate an aircraft eligible for registration under section 44102 of this title knowing that—
(A)the aircraft is not registered under section 44103 of this title;
(B)the certificate of registration is suspended or revoked; or
(C)the person does not have proper authorization to operate or navigate the aircraft without registration for a period of time after transfer of ownership;
(7)knowingly and willfully serves or attempts to serve in any capacity as an airman without an airman’s certificate authorizing the individual to serve in that capacity;
(8)knowingly and willfully employs for service or uses in any capacity as an airman an individual who does not have an airman’s certificate authorizing the individual to serve in that capacity; or
(9)operates an aircraft with a fuel tank or fuel system that has been installed or modified knowing that the tank, system, installation, or modification does not comply with regulations and requirements of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration.
(c)Controlled Substance Criminal Penalty.—
(1)In this subsection, “controlled substance” has the same meaning given that term in section 102 of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (21 U.S.C. 802).
(2)A person violating subsection (b) of this section shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both, if the violation is related to transporting a controlled substance by aircraft or aiding or facilitating a controlled substance violation and the transporting, aiding, or facilitating—
(A)is punishable by death or imprisonment of more than one year under a law of the United States or a State; or
(B)that is provided is related to an act punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year under a law of the United States or a State related to a controlled substance (except a law related to simple possession of a controlled substance).
(3)A term of imprisonment imposed under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be served in addition to, and not concurrently with, any other term of imprisonment imposed on the individual.
(d)Seizure and Forfeiture.—
(1)The Administrator of Drug Enforcement or the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection may seize and forfeit under the customs laws an aircraft whose use is related to a violation of subsection (b) of this section, or to aid or facilitate a violation, regardless of whether a person is charged with the violation.
(2)An aircraft’s use is presumed to have been related to a violation of, or to aid or facilitate a violation of—
(A)subsection (b)(1) of this section if the aircraft certificate of registration has been forged or altered;
(B)subsection (b)(3) of this section if there is an external display of false or misleading registration numbers or country of registration;
(C)subsection (b)(4) of this section if—
(i)the aircraft is registered to a false or fictitious person; or
(ii)the application form used to obtain the aircraft certificate of registration contains a material false statement;
(D)subsection (b)(5) of this section if the aircraft was operated when it was not registered under section 44103 of this title; or
(E)subsection (b)(9) of this section if the aircraft has a fuel tank or fuel system that was installed or altered—
(i)in violation of a regulation or requirement of the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; or
(ii)if a certificate required to be issued for the installation or alteration is not carried on the aircraft.
(3)The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, the Administrator of Drug Enforcement, and the Commissioner shall agree to a memorandum of understanding to establish procedures to carry out this subsection.
(e)Relationship to State Laws.—This part does not prevent a State from establishing a criminal penalty, including providing for forfeiture and seizure of aircraft, for a person that—
(1)knowingly and willfully forges or alters an aircraft certificate of registration;
(2)knowingly sells, uses, attempts to use, or possesses with the intent to use, a fraudulent aircraft certificate of registration;
(3)knowingly and willfully displays or causes to be displayed on an aircraft a mark that is false or misleading about the nationality or registration of the aircraft; or
(4)obtains an aircraft certificate of registration from the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration by—
(A)knowingly and willfully falsifying or concealing a material fact;
(B)making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement; or
(C)making or using a false document knowing it contains a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or entry.
(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1235; Pub. L. 104–287, § 5(78), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3397; Pub. L. 114–125, title VIII, § 802(d)(2), Feb. 24, 2016, 130 Stat. 210.)
A civil penalty under this chapter may be collected by bringing a civil action against the person subject to the penalty, a civil action in rem against an aircraft subject to a lien for a penalty, or both. The action shall conform as nearly as practicable to a civil action in admiralty, regardless of the place an aircraft in a civil action in rem is seized. However, a party may demand a jury trial of an issue of fact in an action involving a civil penalty under this chapter (except a penalty imposed by the Secretary of Transportation that formerly was imposed by the Civil Aeronautics Board) if the value of the matter in controversy is more than $20. Issues of fact tried by a jury may be reexamined only under common law rules.
(a)Aircraft Subject to Liens.—
When an aircraft is involved in a violation referred to in section 46301(a)(1)(A)–(C) of this title and the violation is by the owner of, or individual commanding, the aircraft, the aircraft is subject to a lien for the civil penalty.
(b)Seizure.—
An aircraft subject to a lien under this section may be seized summarily and placed in the custody of a person authorized to take custody of it under regulations of the Secretary of Transportation (or the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration with respect to aviation safety duties and powers designated to be carried out by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration). A report on the seizure shall be submitted to the Attorney General. The Attorney General promptly shall bring a civil action in rem to enforce the lien or notify the Secretary or Administrator that the action will not be brought.
(c)Release.—An aircraft seized under subsection (b) of this section shall be released from custody when—
(1)the civil penalty is paid;
(2)a compromise amount agreed on is paid;
(3)the aircraft is seized under a civil action in rem to enforce the lien;
(4)the Attorney General gives notice that a civil action will not be brought under subsection (b) of this section; or
(5)a bond (in an amount and with a surety the Secretary or Administrator prescribes), conditioned on payment of the penalty or compromise, is deposited with the Secretary or Administrator.
(a)Civil Penalty.—
An individual who, when on, or attempting to board, an aircraft in, or intended for operation in, air transportation or intrastate air transportation, has on or about the individual or the property of the individual a concealed dangerous weapon that is or would be accessible to the individual in flight is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation.
(b)Compromise and Setoff.—
(1)The Secretary of Homeland Security may compromise the amount of a civil penalty imposed under subsection (a) of this section.
(2)The Government may deduct the amount of a civil penalty imposed or compromised under this section from amounts it owes the individual liable for the penalty.
(c)Nonapplication.—This section does not apply to—
(1)a law enforcement officer of a State or political subdivision of a State, or an officer or employee of the Government, authorized to carry arms in an official capacity; or
(2)another individual the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration or the Secretary of Homeland Security by regulation authorizes to carry arms in an official capacity.