Experts in Failure Analysis

Arc Forensics delivers rigorous, defensible electrical forensic engineering for insurers, attorneys, and property owners nationwide.

Knowledgeable & Experienced

Our engineers hold advanced electrical engineering degrees from UT Austin and UT Arlington, professional licenses across 27 states, and decades of hands-on forensic investigation experience.

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Prepared & Equipped

From residential electrical panels to industrial wind turbines and battery energy storage systems, we handle assignments of any scale with the tools, lab resources, and vendor network to match.

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Effective Communicators

Complex technical findings mean nothing if the jury can't follow. We translate engineering into clear, compelling narratives for depositions, hearings, and trial testimony.

Forensic Engineering Services

Comprehensive electrical failure analysis and expert consulting for claims resolution and litigation support.

Electrical Failure Analysis

Root-cause investigation of electrical faults and failures resulting in fires, explosions, equipment damage, and financial loss. We examine everything from residential wiring to industrial power systems.

Industrial Systems Commercial Residential Arc Fault Analysis

Fire & Explosion Investigation

Systematic origin and cause determination applying NFPA 921 methodology. From structure fires to wildland events, we identify the electrical factors and deliver defensible conclusions.

Origin & Cause NFPA 921 Wildfire Evidence Collection

Expert Witness & Litigation Support

Clear, authoritative testimony from experienced forensic engineers. We prepare comprehensive reports, support depositions, and deliver effective trial testimony that withstands Daubert challenges.

Expert Testimony Depositions Report Writing Daubert

Equipment & Appliance Failures

Investigation of failures in motors, generators, transformers, switches, relays, PLCs, lighting systems, heat cables, appliances, and control systems across all environments.

Motors & Generators Transformers PLCs Appliances

Renewable Energy & Battery Systems

Specialized investigation of failures in photovoltaic installations, wind turbines, battery energy storage systems, electric vehicles, and EV charging infrastructure.

Solar / PV Wind Turbines Battery / ESS Electric Vehicles

Software & Control System Failures

Analysis of software defects, control system malfunctions, IoT device failures, and smart building system faults. Investigation of how code and logic failures lead to physical damage.

Software Defects IoT / Smart Devices Control Systems SCADA

Committed to the Truth

Scientific Methodology. Defensible Opinions.

At Arc Forensics, we are committed to the truth. We apply rigorous scientific methodology to every investigation, generating defensible opinions that stand up to the closest scrutiny in claims resolution and litigation.

Our consultants bring decades of combined experience across electrical, software, and electronic failure analysis. From a single residential outlet to a 1.8 MW wind turbine, we have the expertise, equipment, and laboratory resources to investigate failures at any scale.

We serve insurers, attorneys, and property owners from our offices in Dallas and Houston, with laboratory facilities in Corsicana, Texas. Our engineers are licensed across 27 states and regularly provide testimony nationwide.

30+ Years Combined Experience
27 State Licenses
2 U.S. Patents
3 Office Locations

Arc's Experts

Licensed professional engineers with deep forensic investigation experience.

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Michael R. Custer, MSEE, PE

Principal Engineer • Dallas

Over 20 years of forensic engineering experience specializing in electrical, software, and electronic failures resulting in fires, explosions, equipment damage, and personal injury. Background includes design of electronic hardware, software, and networking systems for government contracts including unmanned aerial vehicles, advanced fire detectors, and shipboard wiring fault detection.

LM

Logan D. Motloch, PE

Principal Engineer • Houston

Over 10 years of experience specializing in failure analysis and investigation of fires caused by electrical equipment, power systems, and consumer products. Versatile background spanning oil and gas, renewable energy, and residential design, with specific expertise in hazardous area equipment, VFDs, PLCs, HMIs, battery technologies, and energy storage systems.

Investigation Experience

A sampling of the types of investigations our engineers have conducted.

Software Failure

Cotton Processing Facility Fire

Investigated fire at a cotton seed house. Identified software failure in processing controls as the cause of product loss.

Battery / Product Liability

Lithium Battery Pack Fire & Fatality

Represented lithium battery pack manufacturer in a fire and fatality investigation involving an energy storage product.

Commercial Fire

Consumer Electronics Retail Store

Investigated electrical fire at a major electronics retailer with estimated loss exceeding $3 million.

Arc Flash

Commercial Building Switchgear

Arc flash event in commercial switchgear requiring analysis of fault conditions and protective device coordination.

Wind Energy

1.8 MW Wind Turbine Failure

Investigated failure of a Vestas V80-1.8 MW wind turbine at a commercial wind farm in Oklahoma.

Wildfire

Multi-State Wildland Fire

Investigation of a wildland fire affecting approximately 600,000 acres across Oklahoma and Kansas.

Underground Failure

Medical Facility Lateral Failure

Underground lateral failure at a medical facility. Estimated loss exceeding $5 million.

Industrial Fire

Commercial Egg Farm

Fire at a commercial egg production facility. Estimated loss exceeding $5 million. Electrical origin analysis.

Marine / Vessel

Yacht Engine Compartment Fire

Electrical fire investigation in engine compartment of a private vessel. Equipment and wiring analysis.

Credentials & Affiliations

Professional Licensing

  • Licensed in 27 U.S. States
  • NCEES Model Law Engineer

Certifications & Affiliations

  • CFEI — Certified Fire & Explosion Investigator
  • CVFI — Certified Vehicle Fire Investigator
  • IAAI-FIT — Fire Investigation Technician
  • IEEE Member
  • NFPA Member
  • NAFI Member
  • IAAI Member
  • NSPE / TSPE Member

Speaking & Publications

  • IAAI International Training Conference
  • NASP National Conference
  • SFPE Fire Safety Conference
  • IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society
  • State IAAI Chapters (TX, AL, OK, AZ, MN, UT)
  • IAAI Dubai, UAE (International)
  • U.S. Patents: 2 Issued

From the Field

Technical insights and industry updates from Arc's forensic engineers.

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Contact Information

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Phone

214.771.8550

Michael Custer, P.E. (Dallas)

[email protected]

Logan Motloch, P.E. (Houston)

[email protected]

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Mailing Address

P.O. Box 131986
Spring, TX 77393

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Laboratory

200 Hamilton Ave
Corsicana, TX 75110

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Service Area

Licensed in 27 states. Available nationwide for forensic investigations, depositions, and trial testimony.