ACR 727 WINGTIP LIGHT HIT A CATERING TRUCK.

Narrative

WHILE TAXIING INTO OUR GATE AT JFK THE CREW NOTICED SOME CATERING VEHICLES BEHIND ANOTHER ACFT. THE CAPT WAS RIGHT ON THE TAXI STRIPE; AND SLOWED WHILE MARSHALLERS WERE MOVING INTO POS. I TWICE TOLD THE CAPT THAT HE HAD PLENTY OF ROOM TO MANEUVER TO THE R AND THE CAPT DID MOVE SLIGHTLY R. A MARSHALLER GAVE TENTATIVE INSTRUCTIONS INDICATING; I BELIEVE; INDECISION; BUT DID NOT GIVE A STOP SIGNAL INITIALLY. WHEN A STOP SIGNAL WAS GIVEN THERE WAS A LOT OF CONFUSION ON THE RAMP INCLUDING A SHUTDOWN ENG'S SIGNAL. SINCE WE WERE TAXIING ON #1 AND #2 ENGS; WE SHUT DOWN #2 BUT LEFT #1 RUNNING AND ULTIMATELY TAXIED INTO OUR GATE. ON GND INSPECTION; WE NOTICED A BROKEN LENS COVER ON THE L WING POS LAMP; INDICATING POSSIBLE CONTACT WITH THE CATERING VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE CAPT HEARD MY CALLS THAT THERE WAS ROOM TO THE R; I BELIEVE HE THOUGHT HE HAD ROOM AND BASED MUCH OF HIS DECISION ON THE MARSHALLER; ALSO; OUR COMPANY RECENTLY REFUSED THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING ON TAXI LINES TO ENSURE WINGTIP CLRNC. I BELIEVE THIS WEIGHED HEAVILY ON THE CAPT'S MIND.