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.
| Bell 412 | |
|---|---|
Police_Helicopter_039.jpg) | |
| Bell 412EP of the NSW Police Sydney | |
| Role | Multipurpose utility helicopter |
| National origin | United States/Canada |
| Manufacturer | Bell Helicopter |
| First flight | August 1979 |
| Introduction | 1981 |
| Primary users | Japan Ground Self Defence Force See Operators for others |
| Produced | 1979–present |
| Number built | 1,300+[1] |
| Developed from | Bell 212 |
| Variants | Bell CH-146 Griffon |
It has been manufactured under license in Italy as the Agusta-Bell AB412, Indonesia, 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
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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]
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, and also in Indonesia, and 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
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- 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]
- 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 IPTN's licensed product of Bell 412[11]
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
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- Australian Army : 2 under lease at Army Aviation Training Center.[19]
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (3e École de pilotage des Forces canadiennes)
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- 412M on order.[21]
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Government operators
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- Department of Fire and Emergency Services[24][25]
- Emergency Management Queensland[26]
- New South Wales Police Force[27]
- New South Wales Rural Fire Service[28]
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- Chicago Fire Department[47]
- Delaware State Police[48]
- Los Angeles Police Department[49]
- Los Angeles County Fire Department[50]
- Miami-Dade County Fire Department[51]
- New York Police Department[52]
- Orange County Fire Authority[53]
- San Diego Fire Department[54]
- United States Park Police[55]
- Ventura County Fire Department[56]
- Virginia State Police[57]
Former
- Royal Netherlands Air Force. AB412 helicopters retired from SAR duties in 2015.[58]
- Polish Air Force, 1 412HP used 1993–2011[59]
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.[62]
On April 22, 1994, a Bell 412 medical Helicopter AirCare[63] from North Carolina Baptist Hospital crashed into mountainous terrain near Bluefield, West Virginia, killing all four crew members on board.[64][65]
On July 9, 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.[66]
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.[67][68]
On December 7, 2023, a Bell 412 EPI Helicopter operated by Guyanese military went down with 2 crew and 5 senior officers, at the border between Venezuela and Guyana during bad weather.[69][70]
Specifications (412EP)
Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft,[71] Bell 412EP Product Specifications[72]
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)
- 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[73]
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
Related lists
References
Citations
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.
External links
