ACR MLG HITS BAGGAGE CART IN UNAUTH TAXI PROC.

Narrative

FLT PHL TO ATL DEPARTED FROM GATE. PUSHBACK WAS COMMENCED WITH MARSHALLER HAND SIGNALS WITH NO INTERPHONE COM. GND CLRNC FOR ENG START WAS CONVEYED WITH HAND SIGNALS TO THE PLT. AFTER PUSHBACK WAS COMPLETE ANOTHER HAND SIGNAL WAS GIVEN TO APPLY THE BRAKES. THE MARSHALLER THEN DISAPPEARED UNDER THE NOSE OF THE ACFT; THE TOW BAR WAS DISCONNECTED; AND THE TUG RETURNED TO THE GATE. THE CREW CONTACTED GND CTL AND REQUESTED/OBTAINED TAXI CLRNC. AN ABNORMALLY LONG TIME ELAPSED THEN THE CAPT ASKED THE FO IF THE R SIDE OF THE ACFT WAS CLR. THE FO CHKED FOR OBSTRUCTIONS AND RESPONDED ALL CLR. THE CAPT THEN CLRED THE L SIDE AND FORWARD OF THE ACFT. NO PERSONNEL OR EQUIP WERE VISIBLE NEAR THE ACFT AND THE TUG WAS SEEN BACK AT THE GATE. ASSUMING THE MARSHALLER DEPARTED THE ACFT; THE CAPT COMMENCED TAXI. SHORTLY THEREAFTER; THE MARSHALLER REAPPEARED IN FRONT OF THE ACFT AND GAVE THE HOLD HAND SIGNAL. THE MARSHALLER (A MECH) THEN DIRECTED THE CREW TO TAXI BACK TO THE GATE; ONCE AGAIN ONLY WITH HAND SIGNALS. UPON ARR AT THE GATE; THE CREW WAS INFORMED THAT THE ACFT HIT A BAGGAGE CART WHILE RAMP PERSONNEL WERE PREPARING TO LOAD LATE ARRIVING BAGGAGE AFTER PUSHBACK. ALSO; AFTER GATE ARR; THE CREW WAS INFORMED BY MAINT THAT RAMP PERSONNEL HAD A DIFFICULT TIME OPENING THE FORWARD CARGO DOOR. APPARENTLY THE MARSHALLER; WHO WAS A MECH; LEFT HIS DUTIES TO ASSIST IN OPENING THE CARGO DOOR. HOWEVER; THE FORWARD CARGO DOOR ANNUNCIATOR OR MASTER CAUTION LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE CREW HAD NO IDEA THAT LATE ARRIVING BAGGAGE WAS GOING TO BE LOADED; THE FORWARD CARGO DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN; AND GND PERSONNEL WERE STILL IN THE VICINITY OF THE ACFT. I FEEL THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO POOR COMS AND COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED WITH 2-WAY VOICE COM. PUSHBACK PERSONNEL MUST KEEP THE CREW INFORMED OF GND OPS AND SHOULD MAINTAIN 2-WAY VOICE COMS TO ENSURE SAFE OPS. TO PREVENT FUTURE INCIDENTS OF THIS TYPE; RECOMMEND PUSHBACK CREWS USE INTERPHONE PROCS.