Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors
At the gate the First Officer felt a jolt to the aircraft. He then performed his preflight walk around and discovered a 2-inch gash in the right side of the fuselage approximately two feet forward of the fwd baggage compartment (6 feet off the ground). He reported it to me. I was at the boarding gate retrieving paperwork and discussing the fuel load with dispatch. We inspected the gash together and then informed local maintenance; Maintenance Control; Dispatch and the station manager.
While I was in the cockpit performing my preflight duties; I felt a jolt. During the actual outside preflight I discovered a 2 to 3 inch hole about 2 feet forward of the forward cargo hold about 6 feet high. I notified the Captain.
MD82 First Officer reported feeling a jolt during preflight while sitting in the cockpit. During the exterior preflight a gash was noted on the right side of the aircraft; ahead of the forward cargo hold.