Wind turbine explodes and topples - GIF

[tonyfoale]

If the mechanism that feathers the blades in high winds fails, the blades will spin faster and faster. Folks living nearby might notice the speedup and anticipate what the results might be.

Recently I watched a TV documentary that described the problems they're having with erosion of the leading edges of the blades and the efforts required to repair said damage before a blade fracture occurs. While blade weakening may certainly be a factor here, I think the real culprit is malfunction of the feathering equipment and the resultant overspeeding of the blades.

I thought that failure to regulate speed in high winds was the reason for failure.

[tonyfoale]

..... Third blade however launches good as vertical, not re-entering GIF frame til 3-4 seconds later. If the speed shown by the lower blades any indication, #3 near certainly flew up 1 blade length, because it appears to have flipped end for end! Holy Moley!
So Marv, what altitude can be calculated as attained?

I am not Marv but this is pretty elementary. The falling would have taken the same time as the time rising so if we say 2 secs to fall, the distance is 1/2 x a x t^2.
a = 9.807 so the altitude = 1/2 x 9.807 x 2^2 = 19.6 say 20 m. This ignores aerodynamic drag so if that is taken into account the height would be less.