Bell 412

The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.

Bell 412
Bell 412EP of the Los Angeles City Fire Department
Role Multipurpose utility helicopter
National origin United States/Canada
Manufacturer Bell Helicopter
First flight August 1979 (1979-08)
Introduction 1981 (1981)
Primary users Japan Ground Self Defence Force
See Operators for others
Produced 1979–present
Number built Over 869
Developed from Bell 212
Variants Bell CH-146 Griffon

Design and development

Development began in the late 1970s with two Bell 212s being converted into 412 prototypes. An advanced four-blade main rotor with a smaller diameter replaced the 212's two-blade rotor. A Bell 412 prototype first flew in August 1979. The initial model was certified in January 1981 with deliveries commencing in the same month.[1] The 412 model was followed by the 412SP (Special Performance) version featuring larger fuel capacity, higher takeoff weight and optional seating arrangements. In 1991, the 412HP (High Performance) variant with improved transmission replaced the SP version in production.[1]

The current production version, 412EP (Enhanced Performance), is equipped with a dual digital automatic flight control system. In 2013 Bell introduced the 412EPI which includes an electronic (digital) engine control for a PT6T-9 engine upgrade, and a glass cockpit display system similar to the Bell model 429. Also featured is a Garmin touchscreen navigation system, and the BLR Strake and Fast Fin upgrades for improved hover performance.[2] Over 700 Model 412s (including 260 by AgustaWestland) have been built.[3]

Variants
Bell 412
Standard Model with P&WC PT6T-3B
Bell 412SP
Special Performance version with P&WC PT6T-3BF engines
Bell 412HP
High performance version with P&WC PT6T-3BG or -3D engines
Bell 412CF (CH-146 Griffon)
100 custom-built utility transport helicopters for the Canadian Forces, based on 412EP and designated by Bell as 412CF
Bell 412EP
Enhanced performance version with P&WC PT6T-3DF engines
Bell 412EPI
Glass cockpit version with P&WC PT6T-9 electronic controlled engines
Bell Griffin HT1
Advanced training helicopter based on the Bell 412EP, operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) between 1997 and 2018 as an advanced flying trainer. Operated by the Defence Helicopter Flying School at RAF Shawbury and the Search and Rescue Training Unit at RAF Valley.
Bell Griffin HAR2
Search and Rescue helicopter based on the Bell 412EP, operated by No. 84 Squadron RAF between 2003 and 2023 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
Agusta-Bell AB 412
Civil utility transport version, built under license in Italy by Agusta.[4]
Agusta-Bell AB 412EP
Italian-built version of the Bell 412EP.[4]
Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone
Military utility transport version, built under licence in Italy by Agusta.[4]
UH-X prototype
Agusta-Bell AB 412 CRESO
Italian-built version, fitted with a ground surveillance radar.
NBell 412
Indonesian IPTN's licensed product of Bell 412[4]
Subaru-Bell UH-2 (formerly UH-X)[5]
Modified version of the Bell 412 EPI; 150 on order to meet the JGSDF's requirement for a UH-1J replacement.[6][7][8]
Subaru-Bell 412EPX
Commercial version of UH-X.[9]

Operators

The Bell 412 is used by private and commercial operators. It is particularly popular in the oil industries, military, and for law enforcement use.

Bell 412 operators

Military operators
Chilean Air Force Bell 412
 Algeria
 Argentina
 Azerbaijan
 Bahrain
 Botswana
 Cameroon
 Canada
Main article: Bell CH-146 Griffon
 Chile
 Colombia
 Cyprus
 Dominican Republic
 El Salvador
 Eritrea
 Ghana
 Guatemala
 Guyana
 Honduras
Bell 412 of Indonesian Navy
 Indonesia
 Iraq
An Agusta-Bell AB-412 of the Italian Army
 Italy
 Jamaica
 Japan
 Lesotho
 Mexico
 Montenegro
 Morocco
 Nigeria
 Norway
A Royal Norwegian Air Force Bell 412
 Pakistan
 Panama
 Peru
A Peruvian Air Force Bell 412HP
A Peruvian Navy AgustaWestland Bell AB-412SP
 Philippines
 Saudi Arabia
 Slovenia
A Slovenian Air Force Bell 412
 South Korea
 Sri Lanka
 Tanzania
A Royal Thai Air Force Bell 412
 Thailand
 Tunisia
 Turkey
 United Arab Emirates
A Bell 412EP Griffin HT1 of the Royal Air Force Defence Helicopter Flying School hover taxis to the runway at RIAT in 2010.
Griffin HAR2 of No. 84 Squadron RAF during medevac exercise, 2020
 Uruguay
 Venezuela
 Zimbabwe

Government operators
 Australia
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Canton of Sarajevo Police[25]
 Brazil
 Canada
 Colombia
 Croatia
Republic of Croatia Ministry of Interior - 2 Subaru-Bell 412EPXs for delivery in October 2023[32]
 Czech Republic
A Finnish Frontier Guard Agusta Bell AB-412
 Finland
 Indonesia
 Iran
 Italy
 Japan
 South Korea
 Slovenia
An LA County Fire Dept. 412 sits atop a helipad in the mountains in the Angeles National Forest.
 United States

Former operators
 Uganda
 United Kingdom

Incidents and accidents

On April 4, 1991, a Bell 412 and Piper Aerostar collided in mid-air over a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All five people on both aircraft, including United States senator John Heinz, along with two children on the ground, were killed.

On April 22, 1994, a Bell 412 medical Helicopter AirCare[56] from North Carolina Baptist Hospital crashed into mountainous terrain near Bluefield, West Virginia, killing all four crew members on board.

On 9 July 2002, a Bell 412 from the El Salvador Air Force crashed after a lightning strike, killing all four crew members and three passengers on board.

On December 10, 2006, a Bell 412 medical helicopter Mercy Air 2 crashed in mountainous terrain near Hesperia, California. All three crew members on board died.

Specifications (412EP)
Rotor head and transmission of a Bell 412

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft,[57] Bell 412EP Product Specifications[58]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one-two pilots
  • Capacity: up to 13 passengers, maximum external load of almost 6,614 lb (3,000 kg)[3]
  • Length: 56 ft 1 in (17.09 m) including rotors
  • Fuselage length: 43 ft (13 m)
  • Height: 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m)
  • Empty weight: 6,789 lb (3,079 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 11,900 lb (5,398 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D Twin-Pac or PT6T-3DF Twin-Pac coupled turboshaft engine - each, 1,250 shp (930 kW)
900 shp (671 kW) single power section emergency power
  • Main rotor diameter: 46 ft 0 in (14.02 m)
  • Main rotor area: 1,662 sq ft (154.4 m2) *Blade sections: - root Boeing VR-7; tip Wortmann FX 71-H-080[59]

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 140 kn (160 mph, 260 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 122 kn (140 mph, 226 km/h)
  • Range: 529 nmi (609 mi, 980 km)
  • Service ceiling: 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,350 ft/min (6.9 m/s)
  • Power/mass: 0.2663 hp/lb (0.4378 kW/kg)

See also

Related development

Related lists

References

Citations
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