B737-400 CREW HAD THE APU TORCH; TO THE POINT THE ACFT'S R ELEVATOR WAS DAMAGED.

Narrative

DURING PUSHBACK; THE APU GENERATOR DROPPED OFFLINE. WHILE TRYING TO RE-ESTABLISH ELECTRICAL PWR TO ACFT TO CONTINUE FLT (IE; ENG START) OPS; A GND CREW MEMBER SIGNALED TO THE CAPT THAT THERE WAS AN APU FIRE. THE CAPT VERBALLY CONFIRMED WITH GND PERSONNEL THE FIRE SIGNAL; AND VISUALLY NOTED SMOKE NEAR THE REAR OF THE ACFT. THE APU FIRE HANDLE WAS PULLED BY THE CAPT; AND 1 BOTTLE WAS DISCHARGED AS A PRECAUTION SINCE THERE WERE NO COCKPIT INDICATIONS OF AN APU FIRE (IE; APU FIRE HANDLE; LIGHTS; NOR FIRE BELL). GND PERSONNEL IMMEDIATELY NOTED THAT THE FLAMES WERE GONE; AND THAT NO FURTHER SMOKE WAS NOTICED. I RAN THE APU FIRE QRH CHKLIST WHILE THE CAPT REQUESTED THE CFR VEHICLES AS A PRECAUTION FROM GND CTL. ONCE ALL INDICATIONS OF SMOKE OR FLAMES WERE DETERMINED TO BE GONE; WE WERE TOWED BACK TO THE GATE. A SUBSEQUENT MAINT INSPECTION BY CONTRACT MAINT INDICATED SCORCHING AND HEAT DAMAGE TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE R ELEVATOR; AND THE ACFT REQUIRED FURTHER INSPECTION BY ACR MAINT PRIOR TO RELEASE FOR NEXT FLT. DURING OUR GND TIME IN MSY; HEAVY RAIN FELL FOR 10-15 MINS PRIOR TO OUR PUSHBACK; AND A STRONG TAILWIND WAS PRESENT DURING GND OPS. HANDS-UP PLAY BY GND CREW MEMBER WHOSE VANTAGE POINT IN OPS OFFICE AFFORDED BEST VIEW OF TAILPIPE TORCHING INCIDENT. EVACUATION MAY HAVE BECOME NECESSARY HAD THE GND PERSONNEL ON THE SCENE; WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED INJURY TO PAX AND CREW UNNECESSARILY.