Aviation / Aircraft Accidents Reconstruction Expert Witnesses: 7

Keith M. Cianfrani, MAS, CRSP, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, the founder and owner, has over 30 years of aviation experience. He is a master army aviator, aviation safety officer, commercial pilot, instructor pilot, and was an accident investigator for the U.S. Army Safety Center.

Background - Mr. Cianfrani is rated in both rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft. As a safety officer, he has managed safety programs in organizations with over 100 aircraft stationed throughout 5 states. Mr. Cianfrani is currently an instructor for Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Kansas State University. He is also presently attending Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) as a PhD Student in Aviation Science.

Mr. Cianfrani is a certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and has also worked in the civilian, commercial aviation industry. He has been flying for companies such as Petroleum Helicopters, Damin Aviation, Keystone Helicopters, Island Helicopters, and Chopper 6 and Chopper 3 in Philadelphia. He also has experience in the flight for life, aero medical evacuation industry.

Litigation Support - Keith Cianfrani specializes in Human Factors and Material Failure in Aviation Accident Investigations. He serves as an aviation safety consultant for the Federal Aviation Administration and FIT. An IS-BAO Certified Safety Auditor, he provides safety evaluations in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations. His services are available nationally and internationally and include written reports, depositions, and trial testimony as needed.

Areas of Expertise:

Pilot / Crew Performance Human Factors Maintenance Environmental Factors Meteorological Factors

Safety Training Material Factors Aviation Accident Reconstruction FAA Regulatory Compliance Safety Audits

View Keith Cianfrani's Consulting Profile.

Richard "Pete" Burgess provides service as an Aviaton Consultant for air traffic services, procedures, pilot experience and aircraft accident investigations. Mr. Burgess has been the Owner of Burgess Aviation Consultants since 1994 and specializes in the analysis of FAA Air Traffic Control service and the application of procedures in the following areas:

• Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC's)
• Airport Traffic Control Towers (ATCT's)
• Terminal Radar Approach Control Facilities (TRACON's)
• Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS's)
• Detailed Transcript Preparation of Air Traffic Recordings

Mr. Burgess is an Instrument-Rated Commercial Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor for Multi/Single Engine airplane. He has over 4000 hours of flight time. 

EXPERIENCE

     5/94- Present   Burgess Aviation Consultants begins the twenty-fifth year specializing in the review and analysis of air traffic procedures in Air Route Traffic            Control Centers, Contract Control Towers, Airport Traffic Control Towers, Terminal Radar Approach Control’s and Automated Flight Service Stations.                  Have provided services as an Aviation consultant in over 276 different cases during the past twenty-four years. I have been deposed in 82 cases and testified          in 34 trials

      1972 to 1994 Air Traffic Control Supervisory and Management - FAA

• Managed and supervised the National evaluations of over 160 FAA air traffic ARTCC's, ATCT's, TRACON's and AFSS's facilities in Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
• Qualified on all positions of operation and actively controlled traffic as supervisor and manager at El Paso and Little Rock ATC Tower and radar approach control facilities
• Served as consultant and expert witness in trials involving aircraft accidents and enforcement actions in St. Louis, Kansas City and Little Rock
• Investigated the application and effectiveness of air traffic control procedures at Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles and Kansas City Airports, as a result of major accidents at those airports
• 1957 to 1972 Air Traffic Controller - FAA & U.S. Navy
• Air Traffic Terminal Controller at NAS Saufley Field, Pensacola, FL and NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the U.S. Navy, and Santa Fe, NM in the FAA
• Flight Service Specialist in El Paso, TX. Santa Fe, NM and Lubbock, TX
• Air Traffic Tower and Radar Approach Controller in Lubbock, TX and San Antonio, TX

Envista Forensics is a global leader in Forensic Engineering & Recovery Solutions. They provide Cause & Origin, Failure Analysis, Fire and Explosion Investigations, Accident Reconstruction, Damage Evaluations and Equipment Restoration Services following disasters of all kinds. Envista has offered Consulting Services to the insurance, legal and risk management industries, as well as businesses, public entities, and universities for over 25 years.

Their Experts travel globally from 30 offices located across the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Australia and Singapore. Envista's experience counts when equipment, systems, structures, or data have been threatened by catastrophe or litigation. Their experts and advisors determine cause and responsibility, and identify the nature and extent of damage or loss and provide a full range of solutions to protect their assets.

Envista's technical professionals are trusted advisors and industry leaders. Their expertise is broad and deep, capable of withstanding all forms of scrutiny. Envista's services are available globally so that certainty is assured no matter where in the world it is needed. As the recovery from disasters has grown more complex, Envista has developed a comprehensive array of services to help their clients and has associates located around the globe to provide assurance no matter the type of loss or location of the disaster. Envista helps attorneys quickly get to meaningful answers on the many technical issues at the center of a dispute. Their engineers have decades of experience working with both defendants and plaintiffs.

They offer effective Expert Witness Testimony, with the ability to communicate effectively, build rapport with juries and judges, and maintain adherence to structured, methodical approaches in drawing conclusions are all extremely critical. Envista Forensics understands how critical the selection of an expert can be, and we understand what makes experts effective. Their court qualified experts have extensive experience providing expert testimony on a wide variety of engineering and technical matters.

Areas of Expertise:

Aviation & Aerospace Biomechanics Construction Defects Digital Forensics Electrical Injury & Electrocutions Causation Chemical Computer / Network Equipment Failure Construction Defect Disputes over Reparability of Damage Electrical Failure Equipment Restoration Fire & Explosion Analysis Equipment Restoration

Industrial / Manufacturing Equipment Materials Failure Mechanical Accidents Mechanical Failure Medical / Laboratory Equipment Product Failure / Liability Project Management Structural Failure Subrogation Utility & Energy Valuation of Structures or Equipment Vehicle Accident Investigation Workplace / Premises Accidents

View Envista's Consulting Profile.

Evidence Solutions, Inc. (ESI) is a premier forensics company established in 1982 to help clients obtain, understand, and utilize all the data and information available to them.  We can analyze cell phones, computers, hard drives, EDRs, reconstruct accidents, provide trucking standard of care consulting, recover digital data, and provide expert witness testimony in our many areas of expertise. Our experts can help you understand what needs to be done, what should have been done, and what to do next.  Call us today so we can help you!

Litigation Support - Evidence Solutions' team of Expert Witnesses has a combined expertise of nearly 3 centuries. Our experts provide expert witness services in Digital Forensics, Law Enforcement, Cyber Security, Accident Reconstruction, Commercial Trucking, Transportation Safety, Real Estate, Greek Fraternity, and Aviation.

Areas of Expertise:

Digital Forensics Auto & Truck Accidents Cell Phone Forensics Accident Reconstruction Black Box Forensics Sports and Fitness Injury Police Standards and Policies CMV Standards Greek Fraternity Issues

Product Failure Analysis Medical Record Recovery and Analysis Data Recovery Real Estate  Financial Services General Aviation Military Aviation Trucking Brokerage Triangulation / GPS

Featured ESI Experts:

Trucking and Tow Truck Liability -  FMCSA Subject Matter Expert - Driver Hiring, Training & Reactions Expert Witness

James Lewis has been working as an Expert Witness in the trucking & transportation industry for over 20 years. He obtained his Class A commercial driver’s license in 1987 and boasts more than two million no-fault accident-free miles to show for his efforts.  He has served as a transportation terminal manager, safety director, truck driver trainer, and owner/operator. 

James’ extensive background in transportation has seen him qualified as an expert witness in federal, state, and local courts. In addition to being the primary expert in several Federal-level class action suits, he has produced more than 12,000 written opinions, has testified in trials, mediations, and arbitrations over 800 times, and has been deposed 167 times.

Expertise: DOT/FMCSA-governed trucking/transportation, Commercial Vehicles (CMVs), Towing and Recovery Operations and Policies, General Transportation Operations, Safety Policies and Procedures, Hours of Service Issues, Drug & Alcohol Reasonable Suspicion, Smith System Training, Driver Training, Truck Driver Responsibilities, OSHA, HAZMAT, Electronic Logs / Electronic Logging.

Doug Gipson  - Crash Scene Analysis and Mapping - 3DAnimation -  Expert Witness

Doug Gipson is an Accident Reconstructionist with over 14 years spent investigating, analyzing, and reconstructing vehicle collisions. As a former Law Enforcement Officer, he responded to thousands of crashes over the course of his career. This experience provides him with firsthand knowledge of what the aftermath of vehicle collisions looks like, and the evidence left behind following a collision.

Doug used the knowledge and experience gained over his career to assist in successful prosecutions of offenders in multiple levels of the court system. His expertise has allowed him to provide expert testimony and expert opinions in civil and criminal cases.

Expertise: Accident Reconstruction, Pedestrian and Bicycle Collision Investigation, Motorcycle Collision Investigation,  Commercial/Heavy Vehicle Collision Reconstruction, Railway Crossing Collisions, Vehicle Examination, Accident Site Measurement, Speed Computations, Forensic Mapping, Scale Diagramming,  and CDR / Black Box Downloads.

Doug Gipson Crash Scene Expert Witness Introduction Video

Tommy Tunson - Law Enforcement Standard of Care Expert Witness

Chief Tunson has 32 years in law enforcement including more than 10 years of experience as a police chief and has worked in every aspect of policing. Lt. Colonel Tunson is a retired Army officer with more than 33 years of military service. Professor Tommy W. Tunson has been a Criminal Justice instructor for the University of Phoenix, California Southern University, and Bakersfield College. He is a Professor of Criminal Justice at Bakersfield College and an Executive Consultant on Organizational Leadership, Bridging the Racial Divide and enhancing Police-Community Strategic Partnerships. Dr. Tunson holds a Doctor of Business Administration, Juris Doctor, Master's Public Administration, and Bachelor of Science degrees.

Expertise: Community Policing, Preventing Violence through Community Policing, Law Enforcement Policy and Procedure, Use of Force,  Police Training, Increasing Department Productivity,  Enhancing Community Trust, Criminal Justice and Public Safety Consulting, and  Evidence based analysis and Testimony. 

View Evidence Solutions, Inc,'s Consulting Profile.

Byron Birkedahl, founder and sole expert of HyMasa LLC, has over 41 years of experience in Aviation Electronic Systems at a fortune 100 aerospace company with the most recent role as the Senior Chief Engineer of Advanced Air Mobility and Next Generation Avionics.

Mr. Birkedahl has performed numerous safety assessments of aircraft incidents and served as an advisor to the FAA on new regulatory guidelines. He is an Engineering Fellow / System Architect and Flight Test Engineer credited with creating models and simulations of EVTOL dynamics, propulsion, flight controls and sensors for electronic system design analysis and real time simulator demonstrations. 

Mr. Birkedahl has 11 patents to his name (3 pending) and is responsible for creating control laws for autopilots and flight directors certified on numerous aircraft.

Experience (selected):

• Creation and approval of certification documents and safety analyses
• Knowledge of regulations and architectures of aircraft electronic systems
• Interface and presentations to worldwide aviation regulators (e.g. FAA, EASA, ANAC, CAA, Transport Canada) for the certification of aircraft electronic system
• Establishing the preliminary assessment of safety vs non-safety for aircraft incidents
• Conducting the FAA's Transport Airplane Risk Assessment Methodology (TARAM) of several aircraft incidents and coordination with the FAA of the results
• Analysis of Flight recorder data on a very high-profile accident and meetings with the NTSB on findings

Litigation Support - Mr. Birkedahl has extensive experience in aviation electronic systems that can assist in areas such as aviation accident litigation cases or the evaluation of start-up company viability / risk for investors. His services are available to attorneys representing plaintiff and defendant and government agencies.

Areas of Expertise:

• Presentation Communications with Aviation Regulators (worldwide)
• Aviation Modeling / Analytics / Simulation / Control Laws
• Lead Architect of Complex Aviation Electronic Systems
• Communications to Corporate Leadership and Aircraft OEMs
• Aviation Hazard / Safety Assessments

View HyMasa, LLC's Business Consultant Profile.

Kit Darby was the president of AIR, Inc., the largest Career Information Resource company for pilots for 25 years. Mr. Darby Provides Answers and Statistical Data, but also Guidance through the Constantly Changing Aviation Industry. He works with Military, General Aviation, Corporate, and Commuter Pilots transitioning to the larger airlines. Mr. Darby provides complete, timely, and accurate career information to help pilots make informed decisions throughout their job search and to assist them in their career development as an airline pilot. Retired United Airlines captain, airline and military instructor pilot.

AIR-Experts Services Provided:

Pilot Career Earnings and Employability Models

Depositions and Trials

Expert Witness and Litigation Support

Case Preparation and Analysis

Pilot Forecasting:

Pilot Hiring and Equipment forecast

Economic Forecast

Pilot Supply and Demand

Pilot Hiring Trends

Pilot hiring requirements

target="blank">www.air-experts.com and www.KitDarby.com

Rapperport Associates, Inc., provides exceptional capability in Failure Analysis, Fire and Explosion Investigation, Accident Reconstruction, Structural Analysis, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Metallurgy and Materials Science. We have provided superior technical support for litigation since 1974, and possess an extraordinarily talented technical team with impeccable academic and industrial credentials and proven analysis capability. Our team of distinguished scientists and engineers is drawn principally from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) and Stanford University. 

AREAS OF EXPERTISE:

Failure Analysis Structural Design Analysis Metallurgical Failures Finite Element Stress Analysis Fracture and Fatigue Analysis Scanning Electron Microscopy Corrosion

Accident Reconstruction Automobiles / Trucks Biomechanics / Injury Mechanism Off-Road Vehicles Occupant Motion Aircraft Animation

Fire & Explosion Analysis Cause and Origin Electrical Gases, Liquids and Dust Industrial Processes

Safety Machine and Industrial Safety Machine Guarding Construction Failures Slips, Trips, Falls

Engineering

• Mechanical
• Structural / Civil
• Metallurgy
• Materials Science
• Aeronautics and Astronautics
• Electrical