Originally Posted by
Pilot DAR
I'm sure that there are words somewhere in the policy that state a requirement to maintain control of an airworthy airplane. !
Keep in mind the insurance policies are written against the aircraft and not the pilot. Each underwriter has their own requirements but a number of the policies out there in the US do not itemize how the aircraft is maintained or operated except for certain specific conditions like pilot complex time, etc. if applicable. Given both redbull aircraft were operated under an Experimental Exhibition AWC with approved Operations Limitations, if they had misrepresented themselves to the insurance provider (provided they had a policy) as to what they were going to attempt, then that would be insurance fraud which comes with a much stiffer penalty than an FAA 1 year certificate revocation and $5000 fine.
Half the aircraft accidents/incidents in the US involve some sort of operator error or rule violation but those insurance policies still pay out after such events regardless of the pilot's actions. It's the law. For example, recently a provider denied a damage claim due to the pilot lacked the "proper qualifications." However, that denial was overturned in court and required the provider to pay. The cause of the accident... he ran out of fuel. The only people the insurance providers can blame is themselves. But then again the same industry that writes policies to cover weekend warriors who fly into the ground on a regular basis is the same industry who continues to write multi-million dollar policies for high rise condos that get wiped out by hurricanes every 10 years or so on the GOM.