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Bell 412
Bell 412EP of the NSW Police Sydney
General information
Type	Multipurpose utility helicopter
National origin	United States/Canada
Manufacturer	Bell Helicopter
Primary users	Japan Ground Self Defence Force See Operators for others
Number built	1,300+
History
Manufactured	1979–present
Introduction date	1981; 43 years ago (1981)
First flight	August 1979; 45 years ago (1979-08)
Developed from	Bell 212
Variants	Bell 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

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, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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). The Bell 412 was also initially manufactured in Texas, USA.

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

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

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.

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.

Bell 412 LUH

Entry for the U.S. Army Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) program. Lost to the EC145 entry (see UH-72 Lakota)

NBell 412

Indonesian Aerospace's (formerly IPTN) licensed product of Bell 412.

Subaru-Bell UH-2 [ja](Formerly known as 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 412EPX

Commercial 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

Algeria

Algerian Air Force

Argentina

Argentine Air Force

Australia

Australian Army : 2 under lease at Army Aviation Training Center.

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijani Air Force

Bahrain

Bahraini Air Force

Botswana

Botswana Defence Force

Cameroon

Cameroon Air Force

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

Colombia

Colombian Navy

Cyprus

Cypriot National Guard

El Salvador

Air Force of El Salvador

Eritrea

Eritrean Air Force

Ghana

Ghana Air Force

Guatemala

Guatemalan Air Force

Guyana

Guyana Defence Force

Honduras

Honduran Air Force

Indonesia

Indonesian Army

Indonesian Navy

Italy

Italian Army

Iraq

412M on order.

Jamaica

Jamaica Defence Force

Japan

Japan Ground Self Defence Force

Lesotho

Lesotho Defence Force

Mexico

Mexican Air Force

Montenegro

Montenegrin Air Force

Morocco

Moroccan Navy

Nigeria

Nigerian Air Force

Norway

Royal Norwegian Air Force

Pakistan

Pakistan Air Force

Pakistan Army

Panama

National Aeronaval Service of Panama

Peru

Peruvian Air Force

Peruvian Navy

Philippines

Philippine Air Force - 7 Units Active out of 13 in Inventory in 2024.

Saudi Arabia

Royal Saudi Air Force

Slovenia

Slovenian Air Force

Somalia

Somali Air Force

South Korea

South Korean Air Force

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Air Force

Tanzania

Tanzania People's Defense Force

Thailand

Royal Thai Air Force

Tunisia

Tunisian Air Force

Turkey

Turkish Coast Guard

United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates Air Force

Uruguay

Uruguayan Navy

Venezuela

Venezuelan Army

Venezuelan Navy

Zimbabwe

Air Force of Zimbabwe

Government operators

Australia

Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Emergency Management Queensland

New South Wales Police Force

New South Wales Rural Fire Service

Brazil

Federal Police

Canada

Canadian Coast Guard

National Research Council

Surete du Quebec

Colombia

National Police of Colombia

Croatia

Croatian Ministry of Interior

Czech Republic

Police of the Czech Republic

Finland

Finnish Border Guard

Indonesia

Indonesian National Police

Iran

Iranian Red Crescent Society

Italy

Guardia di Finanza

State Forestry Corps

Japan

Japan Coast Guard

Tokyo Metropolitan Police

South Korea

Coast Guard

Slovenia

Slovenian National Police

United States

Chicago Fire Department

Delaware State Police

Los Angeles Police Department

Los Angeles County Fire Department

Miami-Dade County Fire Department

New York Police Department

Orange County Fire Authority

San Diego Fire Department

United States Park Police

Ventura County Fire Department

Virginia State Police

Former

Netherlands

Royal Netherlands Air Force. AB412 helicopters retired from SAR duties in 2015.

Poland

Polish Air Force, 1 412HP used 1993–2011

United States

Los Angeles Fire Department

Uganda

Uganda Air Force

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force

Incidents and accidents

• On April 4, 1991, a Bell 412SP collided in mid-air with a Piper Aerostar over Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, during an improvised attempt to inspect the Aerostar's landing gear. The accident killed all five people on both aircraft, including United States senator John Heinz, along with two children on the ground. The collision was attributed to poor judgment by the pilots of both aircraft.
• On December 10, 2006, Bell 412SP medical helicopter Mercy Air 2 crashed in mountainous terrain near Hesperia, California. All three crew members on board died. The accident was attributed to controlled flight into terrain in low visibility.
• On December 7, 2023, a Bell 412EP operated by the Guyanese military went down carrying 2 crew and 5 senior officers at the border between Venezuela and Guyana during bad weather.

Specifications (412EP)

Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft, Bell 412EP Product Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: one-two pilots
• Capacity: up to 13 passengers, maximum external load of almost 6,614 lb (3,000 kg)
• 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
• 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 m)

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 most produced rotorcraft

References

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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
• Bell aircraft
• Single-rotor helicopters
• 1980s Canadian civil utility aircraft
• Aircraft with skid landing gear