Aviation Maintenance (General) Expert Witnesses: 4

Quentin Brasie, Chairman and CEO, has over 33 years of experience in the Aviation Industry. A Federally licensed Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) mechanic, he is familiar with a wide variety of aviation assets including aircrafts, engines, spare parts, and flight simulators.

Background - Mr. Brasie began his career with the United States Air Force. Following his honorable discharge from the armed forces, Mr. Brasie served as a line mechanic for New York Air and American Airlines. His expertise in the industry led to management positions with Discovery Airways, and Avitas, Inc. He was a founding partner of Aviation Solutions, Inc., based in Manassas, Virginia, and held numerous executive positions, including vice president. In July of 2000, Mr. Brasie founded ACI Aviation Consulting where he is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the corporation.

Mr. Brasie is the Editor-In-Chief and owner of The Airliner Price Guide publication. Established in 1985, the publication provides current market values for commercial aircraft and engines for a wide industry subscriber base. He has also conducted industry presentations, published articles in numerous trade publications, and completed numerous manufacturer and airline courses.

Litigation Support - Mr. Brasie provides expert witness services on behalf of ACI to various law firms and state governments dealing with global aviation issues. He has been qualified in a Federal District Court as an expert in the Valuation of Aircraft and Aircraft Components, and in the Maintenance Programs for Aircraft and Aircraft Components. Mr. Brasie has conducted industry presentations, published articles in numerous trade publications, completed numerous manufacturer and airline courses, and holds an FAA A&P license.

Mr. Brasie's expertise is available to counsel representing both Plaintiff and Defendant. His client list includes Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Nolan & Heller, LLP., Ravitz and Pallas, P.C., Andrews & Kurth, KMZ Rosenman, Skadden, Arps, Meagher, Flom, LLP., John Kalled Law Firm, Emmet Marvin & Martin, Squire Sanders and Hoskin, Farina, and Aldrich & Kampf to name a few.

View Quentin Brasie's Consulting Profile.

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.

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.