B737-300 CREW WAS PUSHED BACK INTO A FUEL TRUCK BY THE TUG DRIVER.

Narrative

WE WERE BEING PUSHED BACK FROM GATE AT MSY AND THE TUG DRIVER ALLOWED THE TAIL OF THE ACFT TO DRIFT SLIGHTLY TO THE CAPT'S SIDE; INSTEAD OF STRAIGHT BACK. THE L WING TRAILING EDGE THEN IMPACTED THE SAFETY RAIL OF A FUEL TRUCK; PUTTING A 1 INCH BY 1 INCH DING IN THE TRAILING EDGE; SOME SCRAPES AND CREASES IN THE LOWER SIDE OF THE WINGTIP AND POPPING 2 RIVETS ON THE TRAILING EDGE NEAR THE WINGTIP. A 2 INCH BY 4 INCH PIECE OF SPEED TAPE WAS APPLIED; AND WE FLEW A MAINT FERRY TO DAL. ADDITIONAL CONCERNS: OBSERVER -- A SAFETY OBSERVER DID TRY TO SIGNAL A STOP TO THE TUG DRIVER. I RECALL SEEING HIM AT MY 9-10 O'CLOCK POS; AND WHEN THE TUG DRIVER DID NOT STOP; I RELAYED THE STOP SIGNAL TO THE DRIVER. I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE THE OBSERVER WAS; BUT I THINK HE WAS PROBABLY OUTSIDE OF THE FIELD OF VIEW OF THE TUG DRIVER -- WHO ACTED LIKE HE WAS INEXPERIENCED AT PUSHBACK (IN RETROSPECT). PERHAPS A WALKIE TALKIE SYS MIGHT HELP; AS THE 'NEW' GUY WAS PROBABLY FOCUSED ON THE NOSE GEAR AREA. SAFETY RAILS ON FUEL TRUCKS -- ALL OF THE MSY TRUCKS HAVE RAILS APPROX 2 1/2 FT ABOVE THE TOP OF THE TRUCK. MAYBE WE COULD PAY TO SHORTEN THEM TO 6 INCHES -- THE INCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 550301: TO PREVENT FURTHER OCCURRENCES; A '3 MAN PUSH' SHOULD BE USED -- 1 DRIVER AND 2 WING WALKERS.