Wind turbine collapses at Point Tupper Wind Farm after hub bearing fault, Nova Scotia
Aug 2016Published 15 Sept 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor
- Where
- Point Tupper Wind Farm, Point Tupper, Nova Scotia
- Operator
- Renewable Energy Services
- What
- 80 metre wind turbine collapsed after blades struck tower
- Injuries
- None reported
- Manufacturer
- Enercon Canada
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Companies named in the reporting of this entry (being named is not a finding of fault): Enercon Canada, Renewable Energy Services
What happened
An 80-metre wind turbine at the Point Tupper Wind Farm in Point Tupper, Nova Scotia, operated by Renewable Energy Services, collapsed on 17 August 2016 after its blades struck the tower, bending it before it buckled at the midpoint and fell to the ground. The turbine's hub had suffered a bearing failure months earlier and had recently been repaired, with the hub replaced and blades reattached. During a lightning-protection system test, a technician heard an unusual noise, suspected to be a forgotten washer inside the hub, and on inspection found the blades were incorrectly pitched and the electromechanical brake had not engaged.
Workers were instructed to leave the turbine and move to a safe distance. Around four hours later, with no one present, the tower collapsed. No injuries, fires or explosions occurred, and the wider power grid was unaffected. A provincial stop-work order was issued and lifted four months later once the manufacturer, Enercon Canada, had responded to regulatory queries.
Contributing factors
A prior bearing failure in the hub required replacement and blade reattachment; technical challenges were encountered during this repair; the electromechanical brake was not applied and the blades were left pitched incorrectly (about 2 degrees instead of 90 degrees) during a lightning-protection test, which appears to have led to the structural failure.
Lessons learned
- After hub bearing repair and blade reattachment, operators must verify correct blade pitch and brake engagement before any test run.
- An unusual noise during a lightning protection test on a repaired hub should trigger immediate shutdown and inspection rather than continued operation.
- Evacuation to a safe distance after detecting incorrect blade pitch prevents injury when tower collapse follows.
More lessons on structural integrity and turbines, weather and external hazards, from every incident on the register.
Not yet known
- Turbine model and age
- Cost of the damage
- Duration of downtime
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Source
Site page: Point Tupper (status, dates and other incidents)
Published 2026-09-15. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.
