AN ACR FLC STRIKES THE JETWAY WITH THE L WING WHILE TAXIING IN AT SFO. THE LEAD-IN LIGHT DEVICE WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND THE MARSHALLER'S SIGNALS WERE NOT EFFECTIVE. THE L WING WAS DAMAGED.

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AFTER LNDG; I CALLED SFO OPS VIA RADIO TO CONFIRM THE GATE FOR OUR FLT. OPS SAID GATE X IS CONFIRMED; BUT THEY ARE NOT SURE IF THE LIGHTS ARE WORKING OR NOT; SO LOOK FOR A GUIDEMAN. THE CAPT TURNED THE CORNER TOWARDS THE GATE AND SAW THAT NO LIGHTS WERE ON; SO HE STOPPED THE ACFT. I CALLED STATION OPS AGAIN AND SAID THAT WE NEEDED A GUIDEMAN. WHILE I WAS TALKING; I SAW A MECH RUNNING TOWARD THE GATE AREA; WHO TURNED THE LIGHTS ON; THEN OFF; THEN ON AGAIN; SO I TOLD OPS THAT WE NOW HAD SOMEONE THERE. I BELIEVE THAT WHEN THE LIGHTS FIRST WENT ON; THE GREEN LIGHT AS WELL AS THE GUIDANCE LIGHTS WERE ON; AND THAT'S THE TIME THE CAPT STARTED TO ADD A LITTLE PWR TO TAXI FORWARD. SHORTLY THEREAFTER ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OFF MOMENTARILY AND THEN BACK ON AGAIN. AFTER GLANCING AT THEM; I WENT INSIDE TO MONITOR THE ACFT SPD. THE CAPT TAXIED SLOWLY FORWARD FOLLOWING THE GUIDE LIGHTS. I CALLED HIS SPD OF 2 KTS AND CONTINUED TO MONITOR HIS SPD; WHICH DID NOT EXCEED 2 KTS. NEXT WE HEARD OR FELT A SLIGHT RUMBLING OR SHUDDER AND CAPT STOPPED THE ACFT. COMMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS: TURNING BACK ON PARTS OF A PARTIALLY INOP LIGHTING SYS IS A REAL TRAP THAT A CREW; AWAKE FOR ESSENTIALLY ALL OF A 26-28 HR TIME PERIOD; CAN FALL FOR -- PARTICULARLY IF THE CREW IS GIVEN; INITIALLY; A 'GOOD' LIGHTING INDICATION. IF PARTS SHOULD FAIL AT NIGHT; TURN EVERYTHING OFF; DURING THE DAY; TURN OFF GUIDANCE AND HAVE A LARGE FLASHING RED 'STOP' LIGHT.