A TAXIING B757 HITS A JETWAY WHEN IT IS IMPROPERLY PARKED FOR THAT TYPE ACFT.

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UPON ARR AT GATE IN IAD; WE WERE BEING GIVEN GUIDANCE TO APCH THE GATE BY MAINT. I CLRED THE AREA AND CONTINUED TO APCH TOWARD THE STOPPING POINT UNDER POSITIVE CTL BY THE MECH. AT ALMOST THE SAME TIME OF THE STOP SIGNAL WE FELT A MINOR JOLT. WE LEARNED THAT THE L ENG NACELLE HAD STRUCK THE JETWAY DURING THE LAST FEW FT OF TAXI. THE MECH HAD STOPPED US PROPERLY ON THE B757 STOP POS ON THE TAXI LINE HOWEVER THE JETWAY WAS NOT PROPERLY REPOSITIONED FROM THE PREVIOUS DEP; AND WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE ENG NACELLE. THE ARRIVING AGENT STATED THAT SHE WAS TRYING TO RAISE THE JETWAY BECAUSE IT WAS TOO LOW FOR A B757. ANOTHER AGENT NOTED THE JETWAY WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED TO ACCEPT OUR ACFT. THE ACFT SUFFERED COWL DAMAGE ON TOP OF THE NACELLE. APPARENTLY THE MECH DID NOT NOTE THIS POS PRIOR TO GIVING US GUIDANCE. A NOTE TO THIS IS THAT THIS GATE IS LEASED TO ANOTHER ACR. THEY OPERATE THIS GATE WITH THEIR OWN EMPLOYEES AND USUALLY WITH DC9'S AND MD80'S. WE ONLY USE THIS GATE ONCE A DAY; OUR FLT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 437351: THERE IS A PAINTED BOX ON THE SURFACE OF THE RAMP WHERE THE JETWAY WHEELS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE LOCATED BEFORE AN ACFT TAXIES INTO PARKING. IT WAS NOT PARKED IN THE BOX. TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS OF THIS NATURE IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE JETWAY DRIVERS DOUBLE-CHK THAT THE JETWAY IS PROPERLY PARKED. ALSO THE MARSHALLER NEEDS TO CHK THAT THE JETWAY IS PROPERLY PARKED BEFORE ALLOWING AN ACFT TO ENTER THE PARKING AREA.