MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Airport; Chart Or Publication; Procedure; Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related
While taxing within about 30 FT of the parking spot at Gate X; I felt a slight jolt and yaw to the left. The Lead Marshal seemed momentarily to make an 'X;' as if he had been startled; then signaled me to proceed. Wing walkers were present; and I saw no equipment inside the gate safety zone. We parked and ran the Parking Checklist. I looked out at the left wing tip and could see the red NAV light was intact; but I was still unsure of the cause of the jolt. In the interest of safety; I exited the plane as the door was opened and asked a Mechanic standing there to help me inspect the aircraft. I found the left wingtip damage and showed it to him. The passengers were already deplaning; and we found no other damage; so I opted not to affect the passenger egress; i.e. no evacuation. I remember soon after we parked seeing a fuel truck being backed from its spot by the Gate Y aircraft; but I can't say exactly where it was parked when we pulled in. My assumption is that the wingtip grazed the fuel truck as we were marshaled into the gate. I found alignment of the airplane was not left of centerline. Gate X is a tight fit; as noted in the recent safety bulletin. There is a hashed area of paint where the safety lines of gates Y and X touch; [it] appears to be an overlap or 'conflict' area. My guess is the wingtip passed through this area as I was marshaled into the parking spot. Perhaps the pilots should be informed of any specific station policy so that we can 'back up' the marshals when approaching Gate Y or X; e.g. do not park at Gate X when any equipment is located in front of the right wing of the Gate Y aircraft.
A MD-83 taxied into a confined gate area at night with Marshalers present; but the wingtip still contacted a fuel truck in close proximity to the gate.