The reality is that in a light, single engine aircraft there is virtually nothing that will lead to an immediate catastrophic failure if you forget it. The only thing that will immediately cause a lot of damage is to forget to lower the gear before landing. And most aircraft have some sort of audible/visible warning for that.
So if you manage to get the engine running, chances are that the aircraft will actually fly just fine when you open the throttle. And if you close the throttle, the houses will become bigger, and chances are that you will make a fine landing.
Sure, without deploying flaps properly you might not get the best take-off and landing performance. Without applying carb heat at strategic moments your engine might ice up. Without leaning and enriching at the proper moments you might not get the best performance and lowest cost. If you forget to adjust the RPM (CS prop) at the proper moments the engine might wear out faster, you might not get book performance and so forth. So I'm not advocating that flying is just a matter of starting the engine and pushing the throttle, and forget the rest. But in a light aircraft, if you do things from memory and you happen to forget something, it's usually not the end of the world - apart from the landing gear deployment obviously.
For me personally, in an aircraft I'm familiar with, I do things from memory. And in aircraft I'm not familiar with I either adapt my memorized routine, or take out the checklist.
But if you do things from memory, make sure that you still apply a logical and methodical method. Certain tasks, such as starting the engine, always consist of the same steps. Mnemonics or simple counting items work well to remember these. BUMFITCH, FREDA, HASELL and such are still very useful
For more complex checklist parts, particularly the pre-takeoff checks, I always use the same flow through the cockpit to make sure everything is the way it should be. And that flow is dictated by the cockpit/panel layout. For the Robin that would be:
- Coaming row: Check/test warning lights, set interior lights, set/check exterior lights
- Instrument panel: Check the standard six (QNH set, DI set, check others)
- Avionics stack: From top to bottom: check proper frequencies and volumes set, transponder correct code and STBY, GPS has satellite lock, is loaded with the plan and set properly.
- RHS of the panel: There's not a lot here but give it a once-over anyway. (Reset G-meter, check ELT in STBY)
- Bottom of the panel: Check all engine instruments in the green, fuel sufficient, magnetos both, cabin heat settings correct.
- Center console: Check flaps, set for TO. Check/set trim, fuel cock open, carb heat off
- Last: Cabin secure, canopy closed, seatbelts fastened, controls full&free.
Obviously if your cockpit has a different layout then a different flow will apply.
Last edited by BackPacker; 12th July 2012 at 10:52.