80m turbine collapses at Byeolparang Park Wind Farm in Yeongdeok
Feb 2026Published 8 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
- Where
- Byeolparang Park wind farm, Yeongdeok County, South Korea
- Manufacturer
- Vestas
- What
- 80 metre turbine collapsed, tower and blades across road
- Injuries
- None reported
- Cause
- Under investigation
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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Vestas
What happened
On 2 February 2026, an 80 metre wind turbine at the Byeolparang Park wind farm (Changpo Wind Power Complex) in Yeongdeok-eup, Yeongdeok County, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea collapsed, with the tower and blades falling across an internal road. Wind speeds at the time were only 5 to 7 metres per second, gusting to 12 metres per second, well below the turbine's 20 metres per second design wind speed. The turbine, Unit 21, manufactured by Vestas, had operated since May 2005 and had recently passed a safety inspection.
Investigators reviewing footage concluded that a rotating blade tore apart, unbalancing the rotor and causing it to strike and buckle the tower. No injuries occurred because the site's visitor centre was closed at the time, and a passing vehicle narrowly avoided the falling debris. The road was closed indefinitely while the cause is investigated.
Contributing factors
The turbine had been in service for over 20 years, near or beyond the typical service life attributed to turbine blades; investigators are focusing on why a carbon fibre blade tore during rotation, causing rotor imbalance and tower failure, though the root cause has not been confirmed.
Lessons learned
- A carbon fibre blade on a Vestas turbine can tear in rotation and unbalance the rotor, so operators should add fatigue testing for blades over 20 years old.
- Tower failure can occur at wind speeds well below design limits on aged turbines, so risk assessments must account for fatigue rather than overload alone.
- Falling turbine debris can reach internal roads, so operators should keep access restriction plans ready for structural failures.
More lessons on structural integrity and turbines, weather and external hazards, from every incident on the register.
Not yet known
- Root cause of the blade tear
- Turbine model and exact age
- Duration of road closure
- Cost of repairs and lost output
This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.
Source
Other entries that name Yeongdeok
Published 2026-09-08. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
