Phuff -
Mariner9 - no, I don't put the breaks on. At least not deliberately! But my feet might have strayed to the pedals. Or I might have lost break fluid, in which case if I press the pedals they'll feel soft, and I can divert to a field with a longer runway, declare a Pan and have the emergency services waiting for me. Or the breaks might have become jammed on, in which case I might prefer to divert to a field with a more into-wind runway, and again declare a Pan. So many possibilities.....
Parris asked: "If you do your bumffich check on downwind, doesn't that mean that you will fine the props a bit early." Everyone has their own slightly different way of doing things. My BUMFICHH checks don't include flaps or props - I get most of the checks out of the way on downwind to leave me to fly the 'plane in the later stages. Flaps depend very much on the approach - if I'm high, they come down early - as well as on the aircraft type. Prop - I've only ever flown constant-speed props in the US, and I was taught to go to full fine on base (as part of the GUMP check, in fact). I think most UK instructors prefer full fine on final because we have a much bigger noise issue than the US.
Interesting almost-related question: you're flying into a field with ATC, and you're cleared to join on base leg (or final). How do you judge where to do your BUMFICHH checks???
FFF
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