How has a checklist saved you?

[201er]

Share about the most consequential situations a checklist saved you? What did you miss and what would have happened if you didn’t catch it thanks to the checklist? Or what regrets do you have from situations that could have been prevented through checklist use?

[47U]

12 hours ago, 201er said:

Or what regrets do you have from situations that could have been prevented through checklist use?

I’m still trying to get my ground crew to pull the chocks which I realize their failure to perform this important function when I try to taxi.

”Over wing and aft hatches checked closed.  Chocks, ground wires, pitot tube covers, external ground equipment removed.  Upper and lower rotating beacons on and rotating.  Aircraft is in taxi configuration.”

[midlifeflyer]

Fortunately, since I use a checklist I haven't been placed in a situation where I  had to be rescued by one because I didn't use it and then decided to. 

I'm not sure what you are asking about but it reminds me of something non-aviation that happened ages ago. I was still in law school and my friend Ken got a student prosecutor position with the local DA's office. He was going to have his first trial that day, so I came to watch. The case was about a kid sniffing airplane model glue (aha! an aviation connection!) from a paper bag, a popular albeit stupid pastime of the era.

Anyway, the police never secured the bag in a sealed enclosure so, by the time of the trial, the evidence was gone. Undeterred, in response to the defense motion to dismiss, Ken valiantly argued, "Airplane glue smell dissipates with time, so the fact that it's not there now means it was airplane glue."

[MikeOH]

5 hours ago, midlifeflyer said:

Fortunately, since I use a checklist I haven't been placed in a situation where I  had to be rescued by one because I didn't use it and then decided to. 

I'm not sure what you are asking about but it reminds me of something non-aviation that happened ages ago. I was still in law school and my friend Ken got a student prosecutor position with the local DA's office. He was going to have his first trial that day, so I came to watch. The case was about a kid sniffing airplane model glue (aha! an aviation connection!) from a paper bag, a popular albeit stupid pastime of the era.

Anyway, the police never secured the bag in a sealed enclosure so, by the time of the trial, the evidence was gone. Undeterred, in response to the defense motion to dismiss, Ken valiantly argued, "Airplane glue smell dissipates with time, so the fact that it's not there now means it was airplane glue."

So, is Ken still doing stand-up comedy or did he marry money?

[bigmo]

I don’t think this falls into the ‘saved me’ category…but in follow every step of the checklist and touch each item with my finger. Keeps me from doing stupid stuff like departing VFR with my last IFR code (even though I rarely fly VFR).

I will say that developing a good checklist and following it prevents minor situations from becoming major. Part of my pre takeoff procedure is to bug the autopilot on the runway heading (which I’m sure you all do). But it’s an easy thing to skip if you’re just buzzing around. Did a flight with a couple recently and just after gear up she threw up and then started panicking - was a one click solution to manage the aircraft while I dealt with the problem. Not a big deal, but panicky people can do weird stuff. It was nice to not have to think about the place for a couple of minutes knowing it was going where I told it.

Ive never had an “oops gear” or anything following my lists, but it just builds good flow…heck I say it out loud even solo.

[midlifeflyer]

10 hours ago, MikeOH said:

So, is Ken still doing stand-up comedy or did he marry money?

Despite a start that had me (and the judge) laughing, Ken did pretty well in his law practice. OTOH, I’m the one who’s been accused of doing stand-up in courtrooms, so maybe the lesson stuck. 

[GeeBee]

The disciplined use of a checklist and the saves it creates cannot be calculated. You cannot count what did not happen.

[takair]

I can tell of the times where “a friend” skipped a checklist or a flow due to distractions. “They” have forgotten gust locks, pitot covers, cones in front of plane, trim, flaps, cowl flaps, and most recently distracted from doing gumps by weather…..gear was down but not locked. Gear warning to the rescue. 
 

I think a good flow satisfies a checklist. 
 

I think the problem is always distractions. Even with a checklist there are numerous examples of doing the checklist and missing something. Interrupted by a radio call. Rote reflexes that look, but don’t see. 
 

Checklists and flows (maybe not all agree on the “flow”) are great safety enhancers.  However, what would enhance safety would be a way to ensure there is always time to run them and not miss anything. I have yet to see a completely bulletproof checklist.  Luckily most airplanes have some forgiveness built in. Some level of automation helps, but not all automation is bulletproof either. I know we want to believe we will say “unable” when rushed, but sometimes it’s not practical. When our routine is thrown off is when we are most susceptible. If you can sneak a checklist in at that time, it is the perfect time for it, but ironically it is exactly the checklist which is omitted in order to work around the new situation. 
 

I realize my response is not entirely helpful except to say to my friend, try not to be in a rush, build in more time for  preparation, pre flights and checklists.  Maybe we can make up some of the time by flying faster  ROP :-). Be safe everybody!!

[201er]

2 hours ago, GeeBee said:

The disciplined use of a checklist and the saves it creates cannot be calculated. You cannot count what did not happen.

Why not? Are you saying people use it as instructions how to fly the plane?

I thought it’s a “check” list, not a do list or instruction manual. Surely people have stories of “genuinely forgot to put the gear down but then did the checklist and caught it in time.” Or a bunch of other things like that?

[Brian2034]

I have something that could have been avoided if the check list was followed.

I had a partner on an aircraft a few years ago, he’s a great pilot and always goes by the checklist but for some reason on this day he was distracted or in a rush???

Well, he left the tow bar attached, long story short prop strike!

You would not believe how much damage a prop does when it strikes the tow bar on startup.

Destroyed the prop and of course an engine tear down an expensive mistake or lesson however you want to look at it. But I’m sure he always goes by the check list now and btw he’s still a partner on a plane with me.

Also, at our hangar most pilots now place their tow bars in an area by the hangar door when they fly. So before startup you can look out your aircraft window and visually see your tow bar.

[Paul Thomas]

I think the main problem with checklist is that they are being used as do-list. You're not putting the gear down, you should be checking that it did in fact go down and you have a safe indication. For most pilot, the gear is down the when the lever has been moved down and that can lead to trouble.

 

9 minutes ago, Brian2034 said:

I have something that could have been avoided if the check list was followed.

I had a partner on an aircraft a few years ago, he’s a great pilot and always goes by the checklist but for some reason on this day he was distracted or in a rush???

Well, he left the tow bar attached, long story short prop strike!

You would not believe how much damage a prop does when it strikes the tow bar on startup.

Destroyed the prop and of course an engine tear down an expensive mistake or lesson however you want to look at it. But I’m sure he always goes by the check list now and btw he’s still a partner on a plane with me.

Also, at our hangar most pilots now place their tow bars in an area by the hangar door when they fly. So before startup you can look out your aircraft window and visually see your tow bar.

To prevent that, my hand never leaves the tow bar until it's removed from the aircraft.