Wind turbine blade failure scatters debris over Barnsley footpath

Mar 2021Published 29 Oct 2026Responsible editor: Chief Editor

SignificantMechanicalProvisionalNext update 29 Oct

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

What happened

Residents reported hearing a loud bang on 12 March 2021 at Park Spring Wind Farm near Barnsley. Debris was flung from a turbine blade onto a public footpath popular with dog walkers. A turbine tower was reported as buckled, and a blade was left hanging from it. No injuries were reported. Debris remained scattered across the path and surrounding area, and the footpath was still closed when the report was published in July 2021, four months later.

The turbines are owned by EDF Renewables. A local councillor wrote to the company asking for a safety investigation and for the turbine to be repaired. At the time of reporting, parts of the blade still hung from the tower and the repair had not been carried out. EDF Renewables was approached for comment, but the article does not record a response.

Contributing factors

Not reported. The source does not state a cause for the blade failure or the buckling of the tower.

Lessons learned

Cordon off and clear debris zones around a turbine promptly after a blade or tower failure, and keep public footpaths closed until the hazard is removed.
Inspect blades and towers for structural damage after a reported failure before returning the asset to service.
Give local authorities and the public clear information on safety investigations and repair timelines, so that concerns do not build up while a site remains damaged.

More lessons on structural integrity and turbines, emergency response and public communication, from every incident on the register.

Source

examinerlive.co.uk

Published 2026-10-29. 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 Kingdom, by year, free with a credit (PNG).

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Wind (onshore) incidents in the United Kingdom: 48 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.

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