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Wind (onshore)United StatesEIR-0603

High Prairie wind farm turbines idle after collapses

2024Published 9 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

MajorMechanicalProvisional
Estimated damageEstimated by the register's adjusterHow? Know the real figure?
Figure hidden: shown to subscribersMedium confidence
turbine out of service for about •• daysShown in the record →Full estimate
From the recordRoot cause hiddenFailed part hidden
Where
High Prairie Wind Farm, United States
Operator
Ameren
What
Three turbines collapsed
Cause
Extreme weather; blades came off causing imbalance
Outcome
Most turbines idled; 15 returned to service

Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Ameren

What happened

Three turbines collapsed last year at Ameren's High Prairie Wind Farm. The collapses were attributed to extreme weather. An Ameren representative told the Adair County Commission that blades came off and the resulting imbalance caused the turbines to fall. Most turbines remained idle while inspections continued. About 15 turbines assessed as unaffected had been returned to service, with further units to be added. Blades were to be replaced using inspection data. Landowners were to be notified if turbines on their property needed repair, and road repairs were planned after the main works.

Contributing factors

The collapses were attributed to extreme weather. The operator reported that blades came off and imbalance then caused the turbines to fall. The inspection and blade-replacement work was still under way when this was reported, so a confirmed failure mechanism has not been published.

Lessons learned

  1. Wind turbine blades that detach in extreme weather create imbalance and can bring down the whole tower, so operators must ground the unit at once.
  2. After extreme weather, inspect every blade on the site before any restart, then use the data to decide which blades to replace.
  3. Keep landowners and local councils updated while inspection and repair plans are still forming.

More lessons on weather and external hazards, maintenance, inspection and ageing assets, from every incident on the register.

Not yet known

  • Confirmed failure mechanism
  • Turbine models and ages
  • Total downtime and repair cost

This entry is updated when these are reported. Get an alert for the next one like it.

Source

ktvo.com

Site page: High Prairie Wind Farm (status, dates and other incidents)

Other entries that name Prairie

Published 2026-09-09. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.

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Chart to reuse with this story: Wind (onshore) incidents in the United States, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

Wind (onshore) incidents in the United States: 105 entries, with a free alert for the next one.

Wind turbine fires: the counts, the latest entries and a free alert for the next one. Also: wind turbine blade failures and wind turbine collapses.

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