ACFT DAMAGED AS IT TAXIES INTO JETWAY DURING RAMP OP ACFT PARKING PROC.

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APCHING GATE XX; DFW TERMINAL FOR PARKING; GREEN LIGHT WAS ON AND THE ACFT WAS ALIGNED WITH LEAD-IN PANEL. AS WE APCHED THE STOP POINT; I WAS DISTRACTED AS THE FO WAS NOTING THAT THE JET BRIDGE WAS AT A LOW LEVEL WITH NO AGENT ON THE BRIDGE AND HE (FO) WAS CALLING RAMP CTL TO INFORM THEM. CONCURRENTLY; I REALIZED THAT THE RED STOP LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED AND STOPPED THE ACFT. AT THAT POINT WE WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROB (HAVING 'FELT' NOTHING) ALTHOUGH I DID REALIZE I HAD STOPPED FORWARD OF THE STOP POINT. WE SECURED THE ENGS AND IT TOOK A FEW MINS BEFORE RAMP PERSONNEL HOOKED INTO THE ACFT INTERCOM AND INFORMED ME THAT THE #1 ENG COWL HAD CONTACTED THE JET BRIDGE AND THAT PERSONNEL ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE JET BRIDGE HAD FURTHER IMPACTED THE BRIDGE INTO THE COWL. A TUG WAS THEN HOOKED UP; ACFT MOVED AFT; AND NORMAL PAX DEPLANING VIA JET BRIDGE WAS ACCOMPLISHED. A COMBINATION OF FACTORS CAUSED THIS INCIDENT. THE FO AND I HAD DIFFICULTY DISCERNING THE RED/GREEN LIGHTS AS WE APCHED THIS PARTICULAR GATE. THE LIGHTS ARE SMALLER AND DIMMER THAN AT MOST GATES SYS-WIDE AND THE LATE MORNING SUN WAS VERY BRIGHT AND SHINING DIRECTLY ON THEM CAUSING THEM TO BE EVEN LESS DISCERNABLE. I WAS DISTRACTED AT A CRITICAL TIME AND APPARENTLY DID NOT IMMEDIATELY NOTICE THE RED LIGHT ILLUMINATE. I FEEL THAT THE MORE STANDARD OR COMMONLY INSTALLED LARGER AND BRIGHTER LIGHTS WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS SIT. AN ADDED PROC OF ALL COCKPIT CREW MEMBERS' ATTN BEING FOCUSED TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE ACFT AT THE CRITICAL PHASE OF PARKING WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. FINALLY A SURE FIX WOULD BE TO HAVE A GUIDEMAN WITH WANDS AT THE APPROPRIATE HT FOR COCKPIT VISIBILITY TO GUIDE/LINE UP AND STOP ACFT AT ALL GATES. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 229603: THE STOP LINE WAS PROBABLY OVERSHOT BY ABOUT 10 FT (JUST AN ESTIMATE). THE ACFT WAS PUSHED BACK AND NORMAL PAX DEPLANING TOOK PLACE. AN APPROX 6-9 INCH HOLE IN THE COWL AT THE 12 O'CLOCK POS RESULTED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 229604: HOW COULD THIS ACCIDENT HAVE BEEN AVOIDED? ATTN TO DETAIL AND UTILIZING THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COPLT MORE.