A DC10-30 CREW RPTED THAT THE TUG DRIVER PUSHED THE NOSE OF THEIR ACFT INTO A LOADING DOCK AT EWR; CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE.

Narrative

IN EWR; FLT XYZ; WE COMPLETED ALL CHKLISTS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FOM AND STARTED ENGS. I PROPERLY COORDINATED WITH EWR RAMP CTL AND THE GND CREW FOR THE PUSH FROM GATE. WE ALL HAD OUR HEADS OUT OF THE COCKPIT. DURING THE PUSHBACK; WE HEARD SOMETHING AND I TOLD THE TUG DRIVER TO STOP. HE SAID 'WE ARE GOING TO TAKE YOU BACK INTO GATE;' AND I SAID 'STOP' DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT OF THE ACFT. A MECH THEN ADVISED ME THAT THEY HAD A PROB AND NEEDED TO REALIGN THE ACFT. SINCE THEY WERE THE ONLY INDIVIDUALS THAT COULD SEE WHY WE NEEDED TO BE REALIGNED AND COULD SEE THE EXTERIOR OF THE ACFT; RELYING ON THEIR PROFESSIONAL JUDGEMENT; I AGREED TO THE PUSH. I SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 465045: WE THEN HEARD A NOISE FROM L SIDE OF ACFT. THE CAPT TOLD GND CREW TO STOP. THEY PUSHED THE ACFT BACK OUT AND PULLED IT IN. AFTER PARKING AND GETTING OFF THE ACFT WE SUBSEQUENTLY FOUND OUT THE L SIDE OF THE NOSE HAD STRUCK THE LOADING DOCK PORTION OF THE BUILDING. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 465137: PRIOR TO PUSH; ALL ENGS HAD BEEN STARTED (DUE FAULTY APU); ALL CHKLISTS COMPLETED; AND ALL APPROPRIATE RADIO CALLS WERE COMPLETE. LESS THAN 5 SECONDS IN TO PUSH; CREW HEARD A SCRAPING NOISE AND ADVISED TOW CREW TO STOP. THE ACFT HAD IMPACTED THE LOADING RAMP DURING PUSHBACK RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT SKIN DAMAGE ON NOSE OF ACFT. VISIBILITY ON DC10 AND RAMP LOCATION PRECLUDED FLC AWARENESS OF IMPENDING CONTACT. ACFT WAS UNDER PHYSICAL AND VISUAL CTL OF GND CREW DURING INCIDENT.