Engineering Investigations of Failure

Failures come in all forms. Some are dramatic, others deceptively small, and many are highly specific. From exploding soda cans and battery fires to water escapes, wheel separations and helicopter crashes, no two investigations are the same. But with the right qualifications, technical expertise, and a methodical process, they can all be investigated thoroughly.

On July 30th, MEA Forensic engineers Dwayne Toscano, Chris Tranquada, and Mark Bailey will explain how they investigate failure cases of all sizes using a consistent process supported by mechanical and metallurgical expertise, real-world experience, and in-house testing capabilities. Attendees will learn which types of evidence matter most in failure cases, how to collect and preserve them, and how technical methods help reveal the root cause.

The session and live Q&A will be moderated by Dr. Dennis Turriff, who leads MEA Forensic’s Failure Analysis group. This one-hour CLE-eligible* webinar is designed for legal and insurance professionals, including those involved in subrogation. We hope you will join us.

REGISTER HERE

*Our presenters are certified continuing education providers by the California State Bar. Our courses are accredited by the Law Societies of British Columbia and Ontario. Alberta lawyers, consider including this course as a CPD learning activity in your annual Continuing Professional Development Plan.

For more information and to get your name on our mailing list, contact Mireille Maheu.

The presenters – Failure Analysis 2025

Dwayne Toscano, MASc PEng

Dwayne Toscano leads MEA’s Failure Analysis group in California, where he investigates mechanical failures and defects in a wide variety of systems and products. His casework includes water escapes from plumbing and sprinkler systems, HVAC malfunctions, industrial machinery, medical devices, consumer products, and vehicle components. He draws on over a decade of forensic engineering experience, including past work in collision reconstruction involving vehicle dynamics, impacts, and pedestrian cases. Read Dwayne's full bio.

Dwayne's presentation:

• Failure Analysis: a methodical framework to investigate varied and unique cases
• Real-world examples: medical devices and water escapes

Chris Tranquada, MASc PEng

Chris Tranquada is a forensic engineer with extensive experience investigating failures in consumer products, plumbing systems, heating systems, wheel assemblies, and fuel systems. His work focuses on identifying the root cause of failure through detailed analysis of physical evidence, helping determine whether a defect stems from design, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, or use.   Read Chris' full bio.

Chris' presentation:

• A research-driven approach to motor vehicle wheel separation cases
• Broad application of torque audit findings to real cases involving threaded fasteners

Mark Bailey, MASc PEng PE

Mark Bailey has investigated thousands of accidents, failures, and losses over the last 36 years, determining root and contributing causes of failures in aircraft, vehicles, industrial equipment, building components, and consumer products. Mark has a background in mechanical and metallurgical engineering, and expertise in a range of techniques such as microscopy, metallography, fractography, stress analysis, and simulation. He has testified as an expert witness in several Canadian provinces and US states. Read Mark's full bio.

Mark's presentation:

• Tailoring investigative methods to fit complex failure scenarios
• The investigation of gradual, widespread vehicle damage after a sulfuric acid highway spill