Greetings,
Pilots often have a routine when preflighting an aircraft. Typically, we walk through it with a cursory check of each item. What are we really checking? When we flip the stall tab, are we just checking for freedom of movement? Do we take the time to turn on the Master and listen for that obnoxious horn? Did we notice the pitot cover was in place or had been removed?
On your next preflight, consider slowing way down. Read the item on the list and actually inspect it. Know what you're actually inspecting for. When you check the ailerons, check that the bolts, nuts and cotter pins are there and there's no slop or play in the joints. Are all of the muffler attach points solid? Is the brake fluid actually within the limits marked on the reservoir? During runup, did the right mag cause the appropriate drop in RPM and not just a decrease? How does that actually compare to the left mag? You should hear a noticeable drop in RPM when carb heat is applied.
Once in the air, it's rather complicated to fix mechanical issues. A bit of moisture at altitude quickly forms ice in the carburetor and an inoperable carb heater could prove devastating. A stall horn that no longer sounds could prove fatal on short final. A missed control lock as the plane lifts off will result in an abrupt and likely deadly landing. These misses have all caused fatalities that should have been prevented. We learn this during our private training, but many times it gets relegated to a rote process with little meaning. An extra couple of minutes to actually inspect during preflight mitigates much of the risk inherent to flying. Each item on the list is meant as a reminder to inspect that component and determine airworthiness. Please take this into account during your next preflight and fly safe!
Blue Skies,
Brian