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Bell 412

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Bell 412
Bell 412EP of the NSW Police Sydney
General information
TypeMultipurpose utility helicopter
National originUnited States/Canada
ManufacturerBell Helicopter
Primary usersJapan Ground Self Defence Force
See Operators for others
Number built1,300+[1]
History
Manufactured1979–present
Introduction date1981; 43 years ago (1981)
First flightAugust 1979; 45 years ago (1979-08)
Developed fromBell 212
VariantsBell CH-146 Griffon

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. It is a twin-turbine helicopter that has been popular on the civilian and military markets, and major users include Canada, Italy, and Japan. Several hundred have been produced since its introduction in 1979, and several iterations of upgrades and variations have been produced, such as with upgraded cockpit electronics.

It has been manufactured under license in Italy as the Agusta-Bell AB412, in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace, and in Japan by Subaru. The Canadian Bell 412 was produced in Canada, but it was already the location of the main Bell Textron factory.

Design and development

[edit]
Bell 412CF looking forward from the tail
Bell 412 on approach

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.[2] The 412 model was followed by the 412SP (Special Performance) version, which featured a larger fuel capacity, a higher takeoff weight, and optional seating arrangements. In 1991, the 412HP (High Performance) variant with improved transmission replaced the SP version in production.[2]

A Chilean Air Force Bell 412

In the early 2000s, Bell offered the Bell 412EP as its Bell 412 LUH entrant in the U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter program, where it competed against several other light helicopters for an order.[3]

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.[4] Over 700 Model 412s (including 260 by AgustaWestland) have been built.[5][unreliable source?]

The helicopter is powered by the Pratt and Whitney Canada twin-pack power plant with two turboshaft engines and has achieved the lowest in-flight shut-down rate of aircraft turboshaft engines. If one engine is shut down, a single engine can produce emergency power for 30 minutes. [6]

The aircraft has been produced in Montreal, Canada, in Italy under license by Agusta, in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace, and also in Japan by Subaru (Fuji Heavy Industries).[7] The Bell 412 was also initially manufactured in Texas, USA.[8]

The emergency medical configuration can carry 6 patients/wounded and two attendants, or two stretchers and up to four attendants. [6]

By 2022, over 1300 Bell 412 helicopters had been delivered.[9]

Variants

[edit]
Bell 412HP of Heli Austria
RAF Griffin HT1
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.[10]
Agusta-Bell AB 412
Civil utility transport version, built under license in Italy by Agusta.[11]
Agusta-Bell AB 412EP
Italian-built version of the Bell 412EP.[11]
Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone
Military utility transport version, built under licence in Italy by Agusta.[11]
UH-X prototype
Agusta-Bell AB 412 CRESO
Italian-built version, fitted with a ground surveillance radar.
Bell 412 LUH
Entry for the U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program. Lost to the EC145 entry (see UH-72 Lakota)[12]
NBell 412
Indonesian Aerospace's (formerly IPTN) licensed product of Bell 412.[11]
Subaru-Bell UH-2 [ja](Formerly known as UH-X)[13]
Modified version of the Bell 412 EPI; 150 on order to meet the JGSDF's requirement for a UH-1J replacement.[14][15][16]
Subaru-Bell 412EPX
Commercial version of UH-X.[17][18]

Operators

[edit]

The Bell 412 is used by private and commercial operators. It is particularly popular in the oil industries, military, law enforcement, and for medevac use. Around 2022-23, the unit cost for a 412EPX model was between US$14.5 million[19] and US$16 million.[20]

Military operators

[edit]
Chilean Air Force Bell 412
Algeria
Algerian Air Force[21]
Argentina
Argentine Air Force[21]
Australia
Australian Army : 2 under lease at Army Aviation Training Center.[22]
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani Air Force[21]
Bahrain
Bahraini Air Force[21]
Botswana
Botswana Defence Force[21]
Cameroon
Cameroon Air Force[21]
Canadian CH-146 Griffon
Canada
Royal Canadian Air Force
3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3e École de pilotage des Forces canadiennes)
Main article: Bell CH-146 Griffon
Chile
Chilean Air Force[21]
Colombia
Colombian Navy[21]
Cyprus
Cypriot National Guard[23]
El Salvador
Air Force of El Salvador[21]
Eritrea
Eritrean Air Force[21]
Agusta-Bell AB-412 of the Italian Army
AB-412 cockpit
Ghana
Ghana Air Force[21]
Guatemala
Guatemalan Air Force[21]
Guyana
Guyana Defence Force[21]
Honduras
Honduran Air Force[21]
Indonesia
Indonesian Army[21]
Indonesian Navy[21]
Italy
Italian Army[21]
Iraq
412M on order.[24]
Jamaica
Jamaica Defence Force[21]
JGSDF UH-2 in November 2023 at Camp Akeno, Japan
Japan
Japan Ground Self Defence Force[21]
Lesotho
Lesotho Defence Force[21]
Mexican Air Force Bell 412EP, 2012
Mexico
Mexican Air Force[21]
Montenegro
Montenegrin Air Force[25]
Morocco
Moroccan Navy[21]
Nigeria
Nigerian Air Force[21]
Norway
Royal Norwegian Air Force[21]
Pakistan
Pakistan Air Force[21]
Pakistan Army[21]
A Slovenian Air Force Bell 412
Panama
National Aeronaval Service of Panama[21]
Peru
Peruvian Air Force[21]
Peruvian Navy[21]
Philippines
Philippine Air Force - 7 Units Active out of 13[26] in Inventory in 2024. [27]
Saudi Arabia
Royal Saudi Air Force[21]
Slovenia
Slovenian Air Force[21]
Somalia
Somali Air Force[28]
Two Bell 412 of the Republic of Korea Air Force
South Korea
South Korean Air Force[21]
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Air Force[21]
Tanzania
Tanzania People's Defense Force[21]
A 412 of the Royal Thai Air Force
Thailand
Royal Thai Air Force[21]
Tunisia
Tunisian Air Force[21]
Turkey
Turkish Coast Guard[29]
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates Air Force[21]
Uruguay
Uruguayan Navy[21]
Venezuela
Venezuelan Army[21]
Venezuelan Navy[21]
Zimbabwe
Air Force of Zimbabwe[21]

Government operators

[edit]
New South Wales Bell 412EP at Wagga Wagga with the Rural Fire Service
Australia
Department of Fire and Emergency Services[30][31]
Emergency Management Queensland[32]
New South Wales Police Force[33]
New South Wales Rural Fire Service[34]
Brazil
Federal Police[35]
Canada
Canadian Coast Guard[36][37]
National Research Council[38]
Surete du Quebec[39]
Colombia
National Police of Colombia[40]
Croatia
Croatian Ministry of Interior[41]
A Finnish Border Guard Agusta Bell AB-412
Czech Republic
Police of the Czech Republic[42]
Finland
Finnish Border Guard[43]
Indonesia
Indonesian National Police[44]
Iran
Iranian Red Crescent Society[45]
An Italian Guardia di Finanza Agusta Bell AB-412
Italy
Guardia di Finanza[46][unreliable source?]
State Forestry Corps[47]
Japan
Japan Coast Guard[48]
Tokyo Metropolitan Police[49]
South Korean National Police Bell 412
South Korea
Coast Guard[50][51]
Slovenia
Slovenian National Police[52]
United States
Chicago Fire Department[53]
Delaware State Police[54]
Los Angeles Police Department[55]
Los Angeles County Fire Department[56]
Miami-Dade County Fire Department[57]
New York Police Department[58]
Orange County Fire Authority[59]
San Diego Fire Department[60]
United States Park Police[61]
Ventura County Fire Department[62]
Virginia State Police[63]

Former

[edit]
An LA County Fire Dept. 412 sits atop a helipad in the mountains in the Angeles National Forest.
Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Air Force. AB412 helicopters retired from SAR duties in 2015.[64]
Poland
Polish Air Force, 1 412HP used 1993–2011[65]
United States
Los Angeles Fire Department[66]
Uganda
Uganda Air Force[67]
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force

Incidents and accidents

[edit]

Specifications (412EP)

[edit]
Rotor head and transmission of a Bell 412

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft,[74] Bell 412EP Product Specifications[75]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one-two pilots
  • Capacity: up to 13 passengers, maximum external load of almost 6,614 lb (3,000 kg)[5]
  • 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)
  • Blade sections: root: Boeing VR-7; tip: Wortmann FX 71-H-080[76]
  • 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)

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

[edit]

Related development

Related lists

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
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  2. ^ a b "Airliners.net". Airliners.net.
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Sources

[edit]
  • 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.
[edit]
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