Wind turbine blade damaged at Irish Creek Wind near Frankfort
Apr 2023Published 2 Oct 2026
What happened
A wind turbine blade on an Irish Creek Wind tower was damaged on 14 April 2023, sending pieces of the blade into fields below. The turbine is about six miles south and two miles west of Frankfort along Bobcat Lane. Clean-up continued several miles southwest of Frankfort. Debris was spread about 800 feet from the tower. The operator said the cause was under investigation and described the event as isolated.
A thunderstorm passed through the area that night, and the National Weather Service in Topeka recorded 12 lightning events between 10:21 and 10:47 p.m. A county commissioner said landowners would be compensated and that replacing the blade depended on finding a similar-weighted blade; otherwise all three blades might need to be replaced.
Contributing factors
The cause has not been reported. A thunderstorm with lightning passed through the area on the night of the blade damage.
Lessons learned
- After severe weather, prompt drone and ground checks can show whether a blade has failed and how far debris has spread.
- Agreed waste-handling rules with local authorities can keep turbine debris out of public landfill.
- Recovery can depend on finding a blade of similar weight; if none is available, all three blades may have to be replaced.
Source
Published 2026-10-02. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.