Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Inflight Event / Encounter Object
General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy
Upon landing at ZZZ; our right generator went offline.  We ran the QRH and were unable to get the generator working; so we taxied in on two engines.  There was one Marshaller and one Wing Walker at the gate.  When taxing in there was a cone inside the safety zone.  It was far enough away from the aircraft that I didn't think it was going to cause any trouble; so I continued to follow the Marshaller's directions.  When moving the condition lever from the ground idle position to the start position; the feathering of the prop caused the cone to be sucked backward into the propeller chopping off the top piece of the cone.  After calling in the generator failure and exiting the aircraft; I was told about the cone incident and notified Maintenance and Dispatch.  The ground supervisors where also aware of the situation.  No one was injured and there was no damage to the aircraft.  The event occurred because in the rush to get the flight in and get the generator fixed; I overlooked a hazard.  I would suggest all crews hold outside the gate until all items are moved outside the safety zone; no matter how benign they may look.  In the process of trying to stay on time; potential hazardous items may get overlooked.  We all need to ensure safety is our number one priority at all times.
A SF340 Pilot rushing into the gate for a generator repair feathered an engine as he entered the gate and it struck a pylon cone inside the safety zone.