Date: 201704
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Light: Night
Aircraft: B737-900
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Ferry / Re-Positioning
Flight phase: Taxi
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Technician
Reporter qualification: Maintenance Powerplant; Maintenance Airframe
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Training / Qualification
Second reporter function: Technician
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Detector: Person Ground Personnel
When detected: Taxi
Result: Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Airport
Primary problem: Human Factors

Narrative: Early AM; myself; another mechanic and 2 new hires were tasked with moving an aircraft from the north ramp to the gate. On our short drive up to the ramp; we noticed the Food Service Truck was still at the aircraft. I commented about it and everyone acknowledged. It was agreed that I would ride brakes and the other mechanic would do the tug. As normal; the brake rider (me) went directly to the cockpit to get the airplane fired up and running while the others get the tug hooked up; pull chocks and ground power. It took a few minutes for me to get the airplane ready and shortly after the call came from the ground crew that they were ready to push. I asked the tug driver 'are those guys clear' in reference to the Food Service Truck. The response was we're clear; the gate is clear or something to that effect. I didn't give that a second thought. I was told to 'release brakes' and give the tower a call. I called and got clearance to reposition and we were given 'clear to push; KILO to the gate'. We started moving and I heard someone yell 'STOP'. That was the Food Service worker. The tug driver called up; 'did we hit that truck?' I called the tower; canceled my tow request and set the brakes.We really should have had our 'tail watch' remain with the tug driver until the area was clear. The tug driver had VERY poor visibility. It is a very dark ramp; and the tail points into the direction of the bright airport lighting. The Food Truck was nearly invisible. Had the tail watch remained with the tug driver; and even tasked with giving the tug driver clearance to proceed; with his clear view of the back of the airplane; this would not have happened. Additionally; I should have been clearer of the potential threat of the Food Truck and instead of asking 'are those guys clear' I should have asked 'can you go check to see that the Food Truck has cleared the area'. While the Manual is adequate; our local procedure should be modified due to the dark ramp conditions and back lighting.


Second narrative: We were tasked with moving an aircraft from north ramp to the gate. On approaching the aircraft noticed a food service truck at the back door of aircraft. During the preparations to tow aircraft I lost sight of food truck and had forgot that it was there. We got the ok to relocate from ground control and upon moving the aircraft caused damage to fuselage from service truck still at back door. The north ramp is a very isolated and a dark area with nothing to impede aircraft movement. Normally there isn't any equipment in the area so the food truck was out of the norm. Our normal process is to have a tail watch in the event there's traffic on the service road to block traffic. Our tail watch was at the service road and couldn't contact me quick enough to stop the accident.Normal procedures are one person in the flight deck; tug driver and a tail watch. I suggested that the tail watch or a second watch person be present next to tug to give the all clear before any aircraft movement occurs.


Synopsis: Two maintenance technicians reported damage to the fuselage of the aircraft during pushing back when it contacted a truck.