MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy
Received in-range report from ACARS. Gate XX. No NOTAM; Company page or ACARS message that Gate XX was a tow-in gate. Approaching Gate XX Captain had green light and turned in. Once turned in could not see the line-up lights as it appeared they were inoperative. Captain immediately stopped the airplane. The green light was removed and replaced with red lights. A few minutes later Maintenance came on the service phone and said towing in. We started to move forward; went through the trapeze bar and continued toward the build. I felt we were not going to stop before we got to the building and yelled stop but I think the Captain and First Officer were thinking the same thing as brakes were immediately applied. Maintenance then said we had broken the tow bar and they were going to get another and push us back; which they did. The Maintenance Personnel upon enter said he was pulling for the 767 mark. We entered an AML entry so the nose gear and the top of the airplane would be inspected.Lack of information provided to the crew that this was to be a tow in gate. In addition; I think Maintenance got distracted and was pulling for the 767 mark instead of the MD11 mark. The two are separated by quite a bit of distance.
MD-11 Captain reported breaking the tow bar during tow in after lack of communication lead to hard braking.