B737 CAPT LEARNS AFTER THE FACT THAT HIS PWR BACK CAUSED A BAGGAGE CART TO BE BLOWN INTO A PARKED ACFT. DAMAGE GNDS THE ACFT.

Narrative

A NORMAL DAY OF OUR OP AT OUR AIRLINE INCLUDES PWRING OUT OF OUR GATES. 3 ACFT THAT DAY; IN EXTREMELY CLOSE PROX; WITH MY ACFT BEING IN THE MIDDLE; IS A NORMAL AND EVERYDAY OCCURRENCE. AFTER STARTING ENGS AND COMPLETING AFTER START CHKS; WE RECEIVED THE 'ALL CLR' READY TO TAXI FROM OUR MARSHALLER; AN EXPERIENCED LINE MECH. I MADE MY USUAL VISUAL SCAN AND DID NOT NOTICE RAMP PERSONNEL AND EQUIP AT THE GATE NEXT TO ME. AS USUAL IF IT LOOKS SECURED; WE ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE WHILE OTHERS MAY BE LOADING. THAT DAY WITH A HVY 104000 LB ACFT AND A STRONG TAILWIND CONDITION; I PROCEEDED MY TIGHT 180 DEG TURN; USING OUR COMPANY RECOMMENDED MINIMUM THRUST SETTING OF 2000 LBS PER ENG. IT WAS A VERY SLOW BUT CONTINUAL TURN; NEVER NEEDING MORE PWR (THRUST) TO MAKE IT AROUND. UPON RETURNING FROM MY ROUND TRIP ONE AND A HALF HRS LATER; DID I DISCOVER THROUGH THE 'GRAPEVINE' THAT ACFT CLEANERS WERE TELLING MY #1 FLT ATTENDANT THAT 'HA; HA; YOUR CAPT IS AN ACFT KILLER.' APPARENTLY MY MINIMUM THRUST DEP HAD CAUGHT A LARGE LUGGAGE CART WITH 5 BAGS ON IT; AND WITH ITS SIDE CURTAIN ACTING LIKE A SAIL; IT WENT FLYING INTO THE ACFT NEXT TO MINE. IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE CART'S BRAKES HAD FAILED AND WEREN'T WORKING. THAT DAMAGED ACFT WAS DOWN FOR 3 DAYS BECAUSE OF THE HOLE IT HAD RECEIVED. SOLUTIONS ARE MANY AND OBVIOUS -- PRIMARILY; TERMINAL GATE DESIGN AND BETTER MAINTAINED LUGGAGE CARTS.