CAPT OF A DC10-10 RAN THE TOW BAR INTO THE TUG AFTER PUSHBACK RESULTING IN DAMAGING BOTH OF THE ACFT'S NOSEWHEEL TIRES. DISTR BY CONVERSATION OF THE COMPANY CHK AIRMAN WITH A NEW SO WAS BLAMED FOR THE LACK OF COORD BTWN THE FLC AND GND PERSONNEL.

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ON APR/XA/98; FLT FROM IAD TO DEN TAXIED INTO THE TOW BAR OF THE TUG. THE PUSHBACK WAS NORMAL SOP. THE CAPT WAS NEW TO THE PLANE (WITHIN HIS FIRST 10 LNDGS). THE SO WAS ON HIS IOE (FIRST TRIP) SO WE HAD AN LCA CHKING THE SO OUT. THE COMMAND WAS GIVEN TO START ALL 3 ENGS. ENG #3 AND #1 WERE STARTED AND WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF STARTING THE #2 ENG. THERE WAS A LOT OF TRAINING CONVERSATION FROM THE 2 SO'S FROM THE BACK. MY ATTN WAS FOCUSED ON STARTING THE #2 ENGS WHEN THE CAPT ASKED FOR THE TAXI CLRNC. I CALLED FOR TAXI CLRNC. THE CAPT BEGAN TO TAXI A FEW FT WHEN WE BUMPED INTO THE TOW BAR. WE TAXIED INTO THE GATE AND HAD OUR 2 FRONT TIRES CHANGED AND CONTINUED WITH THE FLT 45 MINS LATER. I THINK THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THIS INCIDENT WERE A NEW CAPT WITH A SO IOE IN PROGRESS AND STARTING AN ENG WHEN BEGINNING TO TAXI. THERE WAS A LOT MORE CONVERSATION GOING ON IN THE COCKPIT THAN NORMAL BECAUSE OF THE IOE. THE CAPT HAD ADDED TASKS TO HIS NORMAL ROUTINE BECAUSE OF THE IOE ON THE PANEL. MY ATTN WAS DIVERTED BECAUSE OF THE STARTING OF THE #2 ENG WHEN TAXI BEGAN.