# Bell 430

The Bell 430 is an American/Canadian twin-engine light-medium helicopter built by Bell Helicopter. It is a stretched and more powerful development of the Bell 230, which, in turn, was based on the earlier Bell 222.

## Development

While developing the reengined Model 222 as the 230, Bell began preliminary design work on a stretched derivative with a four-bladed main rotor in 1991. The Bell 430 was formally launched in February 1992, with two prototypes modified from Bell 230s. The first of these flew in its new configuration on October 25, 1994, and the second prototype, featuring the full 430 avionics suite, first flew on December 19, 1994.
Production of the Bell 230 ended in August 1995, and 430 production began. The first 430 production aircraft was completed later that year. Canadian certification was awarded on February 23, 1996. Deliveries began in mid-1996.
On January 24, 2008, Bell announced plans to terminate production of its Model 430 after order commitments were fulfilled in 2008. Production ended after 136 helicopters were completed, with the last being delivered in May 2008.

## Design

The Bell 430 features several significant improvements over the 230, the most significant of these being the new four-blade, bearingless, hingeless, composite main rotor. Although both the 230 and 430 are powered by Rolls-Royce (Allison) 250 turboshaft engines, the 430's engines are 10% more powerful. Other changes include the 1 ft 6 in (46 cm) stretched fuselage, providing for two extra seats, an optional EFIS flight deck, and a choice of either skids or retractable wheeled undercarriage.
The typical configuration seats ten, including a pilot and co-pilot with eight passengers in the main cabin behind them in three rows of seats. Six- and eight-place executive layouts are offered. In an EMS role it can carry one or two stretcher patients with four or three medical attendants, respectively. Maximum external load capacity is 3,500 pounds (1,600 kg).

## Operational history

The Bell 430 entered service in 1996, with thirteen delivered that year. In 1998, some 50 Bell 430s were in service with 9,000 flight hours totaled.
On September 3, 1996, Americans Ron Bower and John Williams broke the round-the-world helicopter record with the second Bell 430, flying westwards from the UK with a time of 17 days, 6 hours and 14 minutes.

## Operators
### Military
#### Bulgaria

* Bulgarian Air Force

#### Dominican Republic

* Dominican Republic Air Force

#### Ecuador

* Ecuadorian Navy

### Civilian
#### Indonesia

* Pelita Air

#### United States

* AirMed
* New York State Police.
* Lee County EMS
* GrandView Aviation
* Louisiana State Police
* Uber Elevate

## Accidents

On September 2, 2009, an Andhra Govt. Bell 430 carrying Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and his party from Andhra Pradesh in southern India went missing over a local stretch of forest. The charred wreckage was found the next morning, crashed on a hilltop in the Nallamala Hills leaving no survivors, five persons deceased.

## Specifications

Bell 230 and Bell 430 comparison :
| Model | 230 | 430 |
| Announced | 1990 | 1991 |
| First Flight | August 12, 1991 | October 25, 1994 |
| Certified | March 1992 | February 23, 1996 |
| Delivered | November 1992 | 1996 |
| Seats | 2 (pilot & copilot) + 5–6 passengers | 2 + 6–8 |
| Height | 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m) | 12 ft 3 in (3.73 m) |
| Fuselage length | 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m) | 44 ft 1 in (13.44 m) |
| Rotor diameter | 42 ft (13 m) | 42 ft (13 m) |
| Length overall | 50 ft 3 in (15.32 m) | 50 ft 3 in (15.32 m) |
| Engine (2×) | Allison 250C30G2 | Rolls-Royce 250-C40B |
| Power (2×) | 700 hp (520 kW) | 783 hp (584 kW) |
| Max. speed | 140 knots (160 mph; 260 km/h) | 140 knots (160 mph; 260 km/h) |
| Climb rate | 1,600 ft/min (8.13 m/s) | 1,350 ft/min (6.86 m/s) |
| Service ceiling | 15,500 ft (4,700 m) | 14,600 ft (4,500 m) |
| Hover ceiling | 12,400 ft (3,800 m) | 11,350 ft (3,460 m) |
| Fuel capacity | 188+ US gal (710+ L) | 188+ US gal (710+ L) |
| Range | 378 nmi (435 mi; 700 km) | 324 nmi (373 mi; 600 km) |
| Empty Weight | 5,097 pounds (2,312 kg) | 5,305 pounds (2,406 kg) |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight | 8,400 pounds (3,800 kg) | 9,300 pounds (4,200 kg) |
| Serial Numbers | 23001–23038 | 49001–49123+ |
Sources: Airliners.net, helicopterdirect.com, AircraftOne.com