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 Royal Air 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) since 1997 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 since 2003 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
  • Algerian Air Force[10]
 Argentina
  • Argentine Air Force[10]
 Azerbaijan
  • Azerbaijani Air Force[10]
 Bahrain
  • Bahraini Air Force[10]
 Botswana
  • Botswana Defence Force[10]
 Cameroon
  • Cameroon Air Force[10]
 Canada
 Chile
  • Chilean Air Force[10]
 Colombia
 Dominican Republic
  • Dominican Air Force (2 on order)
 El Salvador
  • Air Force of El Salvador[10]
 Eritrea
  • Eritrean Air Force[10]
 Ghana
 Guatemala
  • Guatemalan Air Force[10]
 Guyana
  • Guyana Defence Force[10]
 Honduras
  • Honduran Air Force[10]
Bell 412 of Indonesian Navy
 Indonesia
 Iraq
An Agusta-Bell AB-412 of the Italian Army
 Italy
 Jamaica
  • Jamaica Defence Force[10]
 Japan
  • Japan Ground Self Defence Force[10]
 Lesotho
  • Lesotho Defence Force[10]
 Mexico
  • Mexican Air Force[10]
 Montenegro
  • Montenegrin Air Force[10]
 Morocco
 Nigeria
  • Nigerian Air Force[10]
 Norway
  • Royal Norwegian Air Force[10]
A Royal Norwegian Air Force Bell 412
 Pakistan
 Panama
  • National Aeronaval Service of Panama[10]
 Peru
  • Peruvian Air Force[10]
A Peruvian Air Force Bell 412HP
A Peruvian Navy AgustaWestland Bell AB-412SP
 Philippines
  • Philippine Air Force[10]
 Saudi Arabia
  • Royal Saudi Air Force[10]
 Slovenia
  • Slovenian Air Force[10]
A Slovenian Air Force Bell 412
 South Korea
  • South Korean Air Force[10]
 Sri Lanka
  • Sri Lanka Air Force[10]
 Tanzania
  • Tanzania People's Defense Force[10]
A Royal Thai Air Force Bell 412
 Thailand
  • Royal Thai Air Force[10]
  • Royal Thai Police
 Tunisia
  • Tunisian Air Force[10]
 Turkey
  • Turkish Coast Guard[13]
    Turkish Coast Guard
 United Arab Emirates
  • United Arab Emirates Air Force[10]
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
 United Kingdom
 Uruguay
  • National Navy of Uruguay (2 on order)[14]
 Venezuela
 Zimbabwe
  • Air Force of Zimbabwe[10]

Government operators

 Australia
  • Ambulance Victoria (replaced with the AgustaWestland AW139 in 2016)[15]
  • Babcock Mission Critical Services[16]
  • Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Western Australia[17][18]
  • Emergency Management Queensland[19]
  • New South Wales Police Force[20]
  • New South Wales Rural Fire Service[21]
  • MedSTAR[22][23]
 Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Canton of Sarajevo Police[24]
 Brazil
 Canada
  • Canadian Coast Guard 7 Bell 412EPI[26][27]
  • National Research Council[28]
  • Surete du Quebec[29]
 Colombia
  • National Police of Colombia[30]
 Croatia
Republic of Croatia Ministry of Interior - 2 Suburu Bell 412EPXs for delivery in October 2023[31]
 Czech Republic
  • Police of the Czech Republic[32]
A Finnish Frontier Guard Agusta Bell AB-412
 Finland
  • Finnish Border Guard[33]
 Indonesia
  • Indonesian National Police - 1 NBell 412 and 2 NBell 412EP[34]
 Iran
  • Iranian Red Crescent Society[35]
 Italy
  • Guardia di Finanza[36]
  • State Forestry Corps[37]
 Japan
  • Japan Coast Guard[38]
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department[39]
 South Korea
 Slovenia
  • Slovenian National Police[42]
An LA County Fire Dept. 412 sits atop a helipad in the mountains in the Angeles National Forest.
 United States
  • Chicago Fire Department[43]
  • Delaware State Police[44]
  • Los Angeles City Fire Department[45]
  • Los Angeles County Fire Department[46]
  • Miami-Dade County Fire Department[47]
  • New York City Police Department Aviation Unit[48]
  • Orange County Fire Authority[49]
  • San Diego Fire Department[50]
  • United States Park Police[51]
  • Virginia State Police[52]

Former operators

 Uganda
  • Uganda Air Force[53]

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[54] 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,[55] Bell 412EP Product Specifications[56]

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[57]

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

  • Bell 212
  • Bell 214
  • Bell CH-146 Griffon
  • Bell UH-1 Iroquois
  • Bell UH-1N Twin Huey
  • Bell UH-1Y Venom

Related lists

  • List of civil aircraft
  • List of active United Kingdom military aircraft

References

Citations

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  3. Bell/Agusta Bell 412 – Medium Transport Helicopter, USA/Italy Archived 2007-08-24 at the Wayback Machine, Aerospace-Technology.com
  4. Model 212 Twin Huey: USN-USMC UH-1N / Model 412 Archived February 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Vectorsite.net, 1 December 2007.
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  53. Cooper et al. 2011, p. 178
  54. AirCare
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Sources

  • Cooper, Tom; Weinert, Peter; Hinz, Fabian; Lepko, Mark (2011). African MiGs, Volume 2: Madagascar to Zimbabwe. Houston: Harpia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9825539-8-5.
  • Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 180, No. 5321, 13–19 December 2011. pp. 26–52.
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