U/C up for forced landing? Of course!
Yes, I'd agree with that, though I was thinking of the much more routine landing of an amphibian on water, when you're not pumping adrenaline, and things are "normal". Leaving the wheels down doing that is very easy, there are usually no warning systems, and it is life threatening.
It's so easy to "get into the groove" with a plane, and abandon the checklist. I used to fly a Cessna 207, which I modified for research work. The plane fit like a glove, it's a simple (albeit heavy simple) plane. Yes, there were occasions where the use of the paper checklist (which I had written for the modified aircraft) slipped my mind - I knew the plane, it was simple. Then one day, after taxiing to a final stop on the ramp, I saw some people approaching, though not dangerously close. Being conscientious, I shut down, without using the checklist. I wiped out a whole bunch of research data, because the electrical power changeover was not done before shutdown. I was able to explain away the need for safety with people on the apron, but in truth, I muffed it, because I did not use the paper checklist, for this simple airplane (it was just
one more switch!).
The Caravan is pretty simple too, and I was temped to not use the checklist in certain phases of flight last week, because it was so simple, but being new to the plane, I just did not want to risk a flameout, or some very simple error ('cause it is a simple plane) which I would have to explain later. I think I mentioned somewhere else, that I'm a "fraidy cat" about having to admit and explain my mistakes, so I try not to have to.
I got 172 home today without the checklist (okay, I don't know if it has one outside the Flight Manual), but I have a bit more familiarity than some of the newer pilots here. I would still be responsible for a burned out fuel pump though, 'cause I forgot to turn it off airborne, and it ran for the whole flight. Oh, and I forgot the cowl flaps too, until top of descent.
Yeah, this is a "do as I say, but not as I do" subject. I
say you should always use the paper checklist, but I
do expect that every pilot who does not, with the consent of the aircraft owner, can recite the contents of the checklist for the type they are flying, without missing anything. When I did my Caravan PPC, the pilot checking me could not find the checklist for me, and she had flown the plane in 30 minutes earlier.....