No, no, no...
Not quite true at the risk of thread creep. If the paperwork isn't in place the aircraft isn't deemed 'airworthy' though it may be to all intents and purposes 'serviceable' as far as engineering and aircrew are concerned. I can recall a lot of airliners sitting on the ground one Sunday morning because current insurance certs weren't on board, they'd run out midnight the night before, yet aircraft were 'serviceable'.
My aircraft has a Certificate of Airworthiness (CofA) issued without any evidence of insurance - therefore how can it have anything to do with insurance!!!
Those airliners were airworthy on Public Transport CofAs but they would have been illegal to fly because Schedule 10 of the Air Navigation Order needs them to carry their insurance certificates - nothing to do with airworthiness whatsoever.
Validity of certificate of airworthiness
10. A certificate of airworthiness or a certificate of validation issued in respect of an aircraft registered in the United Kingdom shall cease to be in force—
- (a) if the aircraft, or such of its equipment as is necessary for the airworthiness of the aircraft, is overhauled, repaired or modified, or if any part of the aircraft or of such equipment is removed or is replaced, otherwise than in a manner and with material of a type approved by EASA in the case of an EASA aircraft or the CAA in the case of a non-EASA aircraft either generally or in relation to a class of aircraft or to the particular aircraft;
(b) until the satisfactory completion of any inspection made for the purpose of ascertaining whether the aircraft remains airworthy or maintenance of the aircraft or of any equipment described in sub-paragraph (a) which inspection or maintenance has—- (i) been made mandatory by EASA or the CAA; or
(ii) become required by a maintenance schedule approved by the CAA in relation to that aircraft; or
(c) until the completion to the satisfaction of EASA or the CAA as the case may be of any modification of the aircraft or of any equipment necessary for the airworthiness of the aircraft, being a modification required by EASA or the CAA for the purpose of ensuring that the aircraft remains airworthy.
By the way, back to the thread, sorry but the crew were the biggest factor in this accident - IMHO.
B Word