Pitch system failure caused Vestas turbine collapse at Irish wind farm

A Vestas V52-850kW turbine at the Loughderryduff wind farm in County Donegal, Ireland, collapsed in March 2013 during high winds. An investigation by Vestas found that an error in the turbine's pitch system meant at least one blade failed to pitch out of the wind, causing an over-speed condition. The over-speeding blade struck the tower, causing structural damage that led to the turbine's collapse. Debris from the collapse reportedly scattered over a large area, raising local safety concerns. The eight-turbine site was closed for five days following the incident before being reopened after an inspection by the operator, North West Wind. Vestas released details of the cause seven months after the event, prompting criticism from local residents and a county councillor over the delay and the refusal to publish the full technical report.

A malfunction in the turbine's pitch control system meant a blade did not pitch out of the wind as required, leading to an over-speed event in which the blade struck the tower and caused structural failure.

1. Pitch system faults can escalate rapidly into over-speed conditions with catastrophic structural consequences if not detected and corrected in time.
2. Operators should ensure rapid, transparent communication with local communities and authorities following turbine failures to maintain public trust.
3. Debris fields from blade or tower failures can extend over a wide area, so exclusion zones and site inspections after such events should account for this risk.
4. Manufacturers should implement and disclose technical modifications promptly to prevent recurrence of identified failure modes.

windpowermonthly.com/article/1216078/pitch-failure-downed-vestas-ireland-turbine