AN ACR B737 FLC STRUCK THE JETWAY WITH THE L ENG COWLING. THE FLC SAID THAT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE LIGHTING IN THE AREA AND THE JETWAY WAS MISPOSITIONED.

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WHILE TAXIING IN TO GATE AT DFW ARPT; WE NOTICED THE RAMP AREA TO BE DARKER THAN OTHERS WE USE. WE COULD NOT DISTINGUISH A TAXI LINE; HOWEVER; WE COULD A BLACK SILHOUETTE OF A PERSON WITH LIGHTED WANDS MARSHALLING US IN. WE NOTICED 3 OTHER GND PERSONNEL ON THE R SIDE OF THE ACFT NEAR WHAT APPEARED TO BE BAG CARTS. THE JETWAY APPEARED DARK; BUT HIGH AND FURTHER AWAY THAN AT OTHER STATIONS. VERY SIMILAR TO THE DC10 JETWAY WE USED THE NIGHT BEFORE IN MSP. WE FOLLOWED THE MARSHALLER'S DIRECTIONS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE STOP AND CHOCKS INSTALLED SIGNALS. THE ACFT DID NOT ROLL AFTER THE STOP SIGNAL FROM THE MARSHALLER. IT WAS AT THAT TIME OUR GATE AGENT CAME FORWARD AND TOLD US WE HIT THE JETWAY. I TURNED AND NOTICED THE JETWAY RUBBER LIP PARALLEL TO THE TOP OF THE L ENG AND OUTBOARD OF THE ENG STRUT. THE JETWAY WAS REPOSITIONED AND WE THEN INSPECTED THE ACFT FOR DAMAGE. THE L OUTBOARD NOSE COWL WAS DAMAGED BY WHAT APPEARED TO BE THE LOWER JETWAY LIGHT. WHAT COULD BE DONE TO PREVENT A SIMILAR OCCURRENCE: 1) LIGHT TO RAMP AREA SO THAT EVERYTHING AND EVERYBODY CAN BE SEEN. 2) USE MORE THAN 1 TAXI GUIDE. HAVE SOMEONE OR SOMETHING NEAR THE SPOT WHERE NOSEWHEELS ARE SUPPOSED TO STOP. 3) USE MORE PROACTIVE PERSONNEL. IF THE OTHER 3 GNDS PEOPLE SAW SOMETHING THAT WASN'T CORRECT; WHY DIDN'T THEY SAY OR DO ANYTHING? 4) POS THE JETWAY IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IF YOU TAXI TOO FAR FORWARD IT CAN BE READILY RECOGNIZED BY THE CREW.