I flew N887SP while training for my Commercial Multiengine ratings. At the time it was leased to Sky Blue Aviation at Morristown Airport (KMMU). Back then it had many issues. I can only imagine what is wrong with it now with it flying more often than it did while with Sky Blue. My most memorable problem with 7SP was taking off out of MMU and the cowling on the right engine came unfastened. My instructor was afraid it would let loose and hit the horizontal stabilizer. That was the first and only time the emergency equipment rolled to meet us on the runway. We also flew it on my long cross country from Morristown to Harrisburg to Nantucket and back to Morristown. The interior of 7SP was so cold from all of the gaps in the door seals. My instructor took old approach plates and put up against the edge of the door and the suction kept the paper against the edge of the door. The paper blocked the draft and the interior warmed up enough to be tolerable on the long flight.
Even though 7SP had it's issues, it was a stable aircraft to fly. Once it was trimmed out, it was a smooth flying airplane. If I had enough money back then, I would have bought it and restored it to the condition she deserves to be in.
Matt Papenfuhs
