FLC OF MD88 IS GIVEN CLRNC TO TURN ONE DIRECTION ON TXWY; THEN THE OTHER WAY ON TXWY. IN PROCESS OF TURNING; THE NOSEWHEEL SLID R ON THE TXWY. TUG UNABLE TO TOW THE ACFT. PERMISSION IS GRANTED TO PWR BACK. THIS WORKS.

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AFTER LNDG RWY 27R ATL; WE EXITED AT HIGH SPD N2 AT NORMAL TAXI SPD. TWR INSTRUCTED US TO HOLD SHORT OF RWY 27R AT TXWY T. AS WE STARTED A R TURN TO TXWY T; TWR ISSUED A LAST MIN CHANGE TO TURN L ON NOVEMBER AND PROCEED TO THE W END AND HOLD SHORT OF RWY 27R. WE REVERSED TAXI DIRECTION AND WITH APPROX 30 DEGS OF TURN REMAINING; THE NOSEWHEEL SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY SLID TO THE R PLACING THE ACFT FACING N. THE CAPT IMMEDIATELY APPLIED BRAKING TO STOP THE ACFT ON THE TXWY. FO INFORMED ATL TWR THAT FURTHER TAXIING WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND THAT ASSISTANCE WOULD BE REQUIRED. FO CONTACTED ATL ACR RAMP AND INFORMED THEM OF THE SIT. RAMP WAS ALREADY AWARE OF THE SIT THROUGH COM WITH ATL ATC; AND INFORMED THE CREW THAT A TUG WAS ON THE WAY. WHILE WAITING FOR THE TUG; ATL ATC INSTRUCTED CREW TO CONTACT COMPANY. FO CONTACTED ACR RAMP TWR MAINT REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TUG COULDN'T PUSH ACFT BACK FROM ITS POS. TWR REPRESENTATIVE THEN ASKED THE CREW IF WE COULD PWR BACK. FO ASKED IF THE CREW HAD AUTH TO PWR BACK; REPLY WAS YES. CAPT EXPLAINED SIT TO ATL GND CTL AND RECEIVED ASSURANCE THAT AREA BEHIND ACFT WAS CLR FOR A PWR BACK. CREW THEN PROCEEDED TO DISCUSS AND PERFORM PWR BACK. FO MADE PA'S TO PAX AND INFORMED CSC OF SIT AND PWR BACK PROC. CREW THEN PROCEEDED WITH A ROUTINE TAXI TO ASSIGNED GATE. CONTRIBUTING FACTOR: LAST MIN CHANGE OF ATC TAXI INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE AVOIDED. OUR COMPANY OPERATING MANUAL PROHIBITS ALL PWR BACKS; EXCEPT IN ABNORMAL OR IRREGULAR OPS AND REQUIRES COORD WITH FLT CTL. CREW FELT THIS WAS AN IRREGULAR OP AND AUTH WAS RECEIVED.