Which term is used to describe memory failures like forgetting to adjust carb heat?

The term "lapse" is used to describe memory failures such as forgetting to adjust the carburetor heat. In the context of human factors and cognitive psychology, a lapse refers to an unintentional failure of memory or attention. This can occur when an individual unintentionally omits an action or misses a memory trigger, which aligns perfectly with the situation of forgetting a specific task during flight operations.

Lapses are often momentary and can happen even to experienced individuals due to distractions, stress, or routine complacency. This type of memory failure reflects the human limitations in attention and memory retrieval processes.

In contrast, slips, mistakes, and violations have distinct definitions related to human performance. A slip typically refers to an error in execution—where the intention was correct, but the action was not. A mistake represents a failure in planning or decision-making, where the wrong choice is made intentionally. A violation refers to situations where an individual deliberately disregards procedures or rules. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for improving safety and performance in aviation settings.