Bell 412

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.
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. 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.
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.
Over 700 Model 412s (including 260 by AgustaWestland) have been built.
Variants
Bell 412 Standard Model with P&WC PT6T-3B
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
Enhanced performance version with P&WC PT6T-3DF engines
Bell 412EPIGlass 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 412Civil utility transport version, built under license in Italy by Agusta.
Agusta-Bell AB 412EP Italian-built version of the Bell 412EP.
Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone Military utility transport version, built under licence in Italy by Agusta.
Agusta-Bell AB 412 CRESO Italian-built version, fitted with a ground surveillance radar.
NBell 412 Indonesian IPTN's licensed product of Bell 412
Subaru-Bell UH-2 (formerly UH-X)Modified version of the Bell 412 EPI; 150 on order to meet the JGSDF's requirement for a UH-1J replacement.
Subaru-Bell 412EPXCommercial version of UH-X.
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.
Military operators
Algerian Air Force
Argentine Air Force
Azerbaijani Air Force
Bahraini Air Force
Botswana Defence Force
Cameroon Air Force
Chilean Air Force
Colombian Navy
Cypriot National Guard
Dominican Air Force (2 on order)
Air Force of El Salvador
Eritrean Air Force
Ghana Air Force
Guatemalan Air Force
Guyana Defence Force
Honduran Air Force
Indonesian Army
Indonesian Navy
Iraqi Air Force (12 on order)
Italian Army
Carabinieri
Jamaica Defence Force
Japan Ground Self Defence Force
Lesotho Defence Force
Mexican Air Force
Montenegrin Air Force
Moroccan Navy
Nigerian Air Force
Royal Norwegian Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
Pakistan Army
National Aeronaval Service of Panama
Peruvian Air Force
Peruvian Navy
Philippine Air Force
Royal Saudi Air Force
Slovenian Air Force
South Korean Air Force
Sri Lanka Air Force
Tanzania People's Defense Force
Royal Thai Air Force
Royal Thai Police
Tunisian Air Force
Turkish Coast Guard
United Arab Emirates Air Force
National Navy of Uruguay (2 on order)
Venezuelan Army
Venezuelan Navy
Air Force of Zimbabwe
Government operators
Ambulance Victoria (replaced with the AgustaWestland AW139 in 2016)
Babcock Mission Critical Services
Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Western Australia
Emergency Management Queensland
New South Wales Police Force
New South Wales Rural Fire Service
MedSTAR
Canton of Sarajevo Police
Federal Police
Canadian Coast Guard 7 Bell 412EPI
National Research Council
Surete du Quebec
National Police of Colombia
Republic of Croatia Ministry of Interior - 2 Subaru-Bell 412EPXs for delivery in October 2023
Police of the Czech Republic
Finnish Border Guard
Indonesian National Police - 1 NBell 412 and 2 NBell 412EP
Iranian Red Crescent Society
Guardia di Finanza
State Forestry Corps
Japan Coast Guard
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department
Coast Guard
Slovenian National Police
Chicago Fire Department
Delaware State Police
Los Angeles City Fire Department
Los Angeles County Fire Department
Miami-Dade County Fire Department
New York City Police Department Aviation Unit
Orange County Fire Authority
San Diego Fire Department
United States Park Police
Ventura County Fire Department
Virginia State Police
Former operators
Uganda Air Force
Royal Air Force
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 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)
See also
References
Citations
Sources
Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, Vol. 180, No. 5321, 13–19 December 2011. pp. 26–52.
External links
Bell Helicopter 412EP official page
1980s United States helicopters
1980s United States civil utility aircraft
1980s Canadian helicopters
Twin-turbine helicopters
Aircraft first flown in 1979
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