RV-6
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 19; Flight Crew Total 1861; Flight Crew Type 720
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Human Factors
Level at 8;000 ft MSL. Radar contact with Center. There was a sudden; very loud banging noise in aircraft. My first thought was an engine problem. Immediately reduced power to slow down and started descent. Attempted to contact Center on assigned frequency. No response. I determined that the cause of noise was not engine related at about 7;600 feet MSL and that there was no cause to terminate the flight. Added power; returned to course and climbed back to assigned altitude (8;000 ft). Center never queried our intentions. Aircraft is equipped with a sliding canopy that swells slightly in width at cruise speeds due to aerodynamic loads on the canopy. My wife was using a light jacket to shield herself from the sun on the right side of the aircraft. One sleeve of the jacket was pulled out of the aircraft thru a 1/8-inch gap between the canopy skirt and the airframe. The jacket sleeve was pulled out approximately 15 inches and beat the side of the aircraft. We were able to retrieve the sleeve and continued to our destination.
RV-6A pilot reported becoming alarmed at a banging noise in flight that turned out be a jacket sleeve that was drawn out of the canopy and was striking the fuselage.