Just hours before a massive wind turbine collapsed last year in Cape Breton, a technician performing routine maintenance heard what was believed to be a washer lost in the structure's hub. The 80-metre turbine at the Point Tupper Wind Farm buckled around its midpoint and crashed to the ground on Aug. 17, 2016. Brake not appliedThe heavily redacted documents said the turbine's blades and damaged hub were removed the day before the collapse. On Aug. 17, workers tested the turbine's lightning-protection system, which required positioning the blades so they pitched into the wind. "When the rotor is unlocked, a noise is heard (suspected to be a forgotten washer in the hub)," it said.

Source: CBC News May 15, 2017 09:00 UTC