A method and a system for operating a wind turbine (10) during a fault. The system includes a pitch motor for rotating each rotor blade (18) second pitch sensors (72) for determining when the rotor blade (18) is rotated to a set point and a backup pitch controller (80). After a fault is detected the method determines whether the wind speed in the vicinity of the wind turbine (10) is less than or greater than or equal to a maximum rated velocity of the wind turbine (10). The backup pitch controller (80) then rotates the rotor blades (18) to a specific set point based on the determination.