EMB ERJ 170/175 ER/LR
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Type 500
Distraction; Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter FOD
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Human Factors
We parked at the gate in ZZZ. The APU was MEL'd and once parked had the left engine running while the right engine was shut down waiting for the GPU to be connected to the aircraft. In ZZZ the jetways have to be in place before the GPU can be connected. I had my hand on the #1 Start/Stop selector just in case I had to shut down the #1 engine for any abnormality. Once the jetway was in place I felt what seemed to be a loud Bang coming from the left side of the aircraft. A cone was ingested into the #1 engine. I immediately shut down the #1 engine and assessed the situation making sure both Flight Attendants and passengers were ok. I examined the surrounding area and felt it was safe to deplane the passengers.Myself and the First Officer followed the Flight Operations Manual. Once we landed; we could have called Ops to let them know that the left engine would remain on until the external power was connected. Complacency by the Ramp crew noticing the Left engine running and the Red Beacon 'On' was also mistake. Looking back I could have shut down both engines to prevent this from happening. Distraction is the true culprit.
On our first leg the APU would not start after we landed and it was deferred. I gave ZZZ ops an in-range call 20 minutes out to make sure they were aware of the APU and specifically told them we can't shut down both engines until the ground power is plugged in. We were marshaled in and parked. The number one engine was running while we waited for the GPU. That's when we heard a loud bang and a jolt. The Captain immediately shutdown the engine. Soon after we learned that a ramper apparently put an orange cone in front of the engine and it was ingested. I'm not familiar with ground crews' SOPs. I would imagine the Lead; or whoever's in charge; would want everyone working to be aware when a plane is coming in with no APU; and the different procedures that that entails.
ERJ-170 flight crew reported the left engine ingested a cone shortly after gate arrival.