Cut out all the conjecture from the "what if" brigade
“What if” is a recognised, indeed mandated, Safety Management technique. For example, SWIFT – Structured What-If Technique”.
One generates a list of questions based on the experience of the safety engineers, designers, users etc, combined with known Hazards. Then applied to the system or sub-system. (A very simple summary).
The results are
recorded and
followed up…. Again, both mandated in the airworthiness regs.
So, at what point was this “what if”, or equivalent, technique carried out, recorded and followed up? For example, here’s a question arising from experience gained before the accident;
“What if the DECU connector came loose in-flight?”
Or,
“What if there was a control jam caused by detached springs?”
Or,
“We know the software hasn’t been validated or verified, what if we just ignore this?”
And so on………
The outcome may only be entries in the FRCs. Let’s face it; there were plenty of blank spaces. But, questions and answers there must be. If not, that is gross negligence and dereliction of duty.
All, of course, airworthiness stuff, which many here think irrelevant.