Definition
A representative, non-aircraft-specific checklist provided in training material to illustrate the typical items, sequence, and format a pilot would follow when responding to an in-flight emergency. It is meant as a teaching example and is not approved for use in any specific airplane; the actual checklist for a given aircraft is found in that airplane's Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or Airplane Flight Manual (AFM).
Plain English
An example checklist shown in a handbook so pilots can see what an emergency checklist usually looks like and what kinds of steps it contains. It is for learning, not for actual use in the cockpit.
Context Anchor
Seen in emergency approach and landing training, especially when learning how pilots organize actions during a simulated engine failure or other practice emergency.
Derivation
Sample comes from an older form of example, meaning something shown as a model. Checklist means a list used to check that required actions are not missed. Together, the phrase points to a model checklist, not necessarily an approved aircraft checklist.
Why Pilots Care
Practicing with a clear example helps pilots react quickly and correctly when a real engine failure or other emergency occurs.
Intuition Check
Do not read sample as meaning official or complete for every airplane. Here, sample means an example used to teach the format and flow of emergency actions.
Example Sentence 1
The instructor walked the student through the sample emergency checklist in the handbook to show the general flow of an engine-failure response.
Example Sentence 2
During the flight, the instructor pointed to items on the sample emergency checklist to reinforce proper sequence.