DURING PUSHBACK THE TOWBAR BECOMES DISCONNECTED ON AN MD80. AFTER THE STATION RELUCTANTLY SENDS A MECH TO INSPECT; THE ACFT IS RELEASED. AT DEST NOSEWHEEL TIRE AND DOOR DAMAGE IS FOUND ACCOUNTING FOR VIBRATION AND NOISE IN THAT AREA DURING FLT.

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ACFT DAMAGED ON GND. DURING PUSHBACK AS THE ACFT WAS ROLLING BACKWARDS; WE HEARD A LOUD CLANGING NOISE AND SEVERAL BANGS FROM THE NOSE GEAR AREA; THEN THE TUG DRIVER CALLED 'BRAKES PARKED.' I SAID 'WE'RE STILL MOVING;' AND HE REPLIED; 'THE AIRPLANE HAS COME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TOWBAR. PARK THE BRAKES NOW.' I GENTLY PARKED THE BRAKES AND ASKED WHAT HAPPENED. HE REPLIED 'THE TOWBAR CAME OFF; AND I THINK YOU SHOULD CALL MAINT OUT.' I CALLED MAINT; AND THEY ASKED IF THE BAR CAME OFF OR BROKE. WHEN I ASKED WHY; THEY SAID IF IT JUST CAME OFF WE DON'T NEED TO SEND SOMEONE OUT. I REPLIED; 'YOU DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND; WE NEED A MECH OUT HERE TO INSPECT FOR DAMAGE; I DON'T CARE WHY IT CAME OFF.' THEN THE EXASPERATED PERSON ON THE RADIO SAID THEY WOULD SEND SOMEONE OUT. SHORTLY; A MECH CAME OUT AND SAID WE WERE GOOD TO GO; WOULD WE LIKE TO CHK THE STEERING? I REPLIED YES AND WHEN WE DID I COULDN'T MOVE THE TILLER; TOLD THE MECH; AND HE THEN REALIZED THE BYPASS PIN WAS INSTALLED AND HE REMOVED IT; THEN THE STEERING SEEMED TO WORK OK SO WE DEPARTED. ON CLBOUT WE NOTICED A LOW FREQ HUM AND THE RUDDER PEDALS WERE VIBRATING SLIGHTLY. DURING THE DSCNT THE HUM/VIBRATION STARTED AGAIN FOR A FEW MINS IN THE DSCNT THEN STOPPED. UPON ARR; THE GUIDE MAN IMMEDIATELY POINTED TO THE NOSE GEAR AREA AND SHOWED THE DAMAGE TO THE AGENT ON THE BRIDGE. AFTER CONFERRING WITH MAINT; WE FOUND A TEAR IN THE BOTTOM OF THE L GEAR DOOR; THE R DOOR WAS BENT IN ON THE TRAILING EDGE AND THERE WAS A LARGE GASH IN THE L TIRE THAT REQUIRED CHANGING. BOTH DENTS HAD RED PAINT ON THEM PRESUMABLY FROM THE TOWBAR. I AM UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW THIS WAS MISSED BY THE MECH.