The Bell 412 is a

utility helicopter A utility helicopter is a multi-purpose helicopter capable of fulfilling many different roles. Civil Many civilian helicopters are made for utility work such as agricultural aircraft. Many police and fire departments maintain and operate util ...

of the Huey family manufactured by

Bell Helicopter Bell Textron Inc. is an American aerospace manufacturer headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. A subsidiary of Textron, Bell manufactures military rotorcraft at facilities in Fort Worth, and Amarillo, Texas, as well as commercial helicopters ...

. 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.Bell/Agusta Bell 412 – Medium Transport Helicopter, USA/Italy
, Aerospace-Technology.com

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 } The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; french: Forces armées canadiennes, ''FAC'') are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Ai ...

, based on 412EP and designated by Bell as 412CF ;: 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 The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) an ...

(RAF) since 1997 as an advanced flying trainer. Operated by the

Defence Helicopter Flying School The Defence Helicopter Flying School (DHFS) was a military flying school based at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire, England. The school, established in 1997, was a tri-service organisation and trained helicopter aircrews for all three British armed f ...

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 since 2003 at RAF Akrotiri in

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is ...

. ;Agusta-Bell AB 412:Civil utility transport version, built under license in Italy by Agusta.Model 212 Twin Huey: USN-USMC UH-1N / Model 412
. Vectorsite.net, 1 December 2007. ;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. Prototype of the UH-X ahead of her first flight

Prototype of the UH-X ahead of her first flight

;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 The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force ( ja, 陸上自衛隊, Rikujō Jieitai), , also referred to as the Japanese Army, is the land warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Created on July 1, 1954, it is the largest of the three service b ...

'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. Bell 412 operators - 2021

Military operators

; * Algerian Air Force ; *

Argentine Air Force "Argentine Wings" , mascot = , anniversaries = 10 August (anniversary) 1 May (Baptism of fire during the Falklands War) , equipment = 139 aircraft , equipment_label = , battles = * Operation Independence * Operation Soberanía * Falkl ...

; * 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 Bell 412 Indonesian Navy

; *

Indonesian Army The Indonesian Army ( id, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD), ) is the land branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It has an estimated strength of 300,000 active personnel. The history of the Indonesian Army has its r ...

* Indonesian Navy ; * Iraqi Air Force (12 on order) Agusta-Bell AB-412 Griffon, Italy - Army (canted)

; *

Italian Army "The safeguard of the republic shall be the supreme law" , colors = , colors_labels = , march = ''Parata d'Eroi'' ("Heroes's parade") by Francesco Pellegrino, ''4 Maggio'' (May 4) ...

Carabinieri The Carabinieri (, also , ; formally ''Arma dei Carabinieri'', "Arm of Carabineers"; previously ''Corpo dei Carabinieri Reali'', "Royal Carabineers Corps") are the national gendarmerie of Italy who primarily carry out domestic and foreign poli ...

; * Jamaica Defence Force ; *

Japan Ground Self Defence Force The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force ( ja, 陸上自衛隊, Rikujō Jieitai), , also referred to as the Japanese Army, is the land warfare branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Created on July 1, 1954, it is the largest of the three service b ...

; * Lesotho Defence Force ; * Mexican Air Force ; * Montenegrin Air Force ; * Moroccan Navy ; * Nigerian Air Force ; * Royal Norwegian Air Force Bell 412SP ‘148’ (49518597807)

; *

Pakistan Air Force , "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional) , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = ...

Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...

; * National Aeronaval Service of Panama ; * Peruvian Air Force B412_FAP

* Peruvian Navy ; * Philippine Air Force ; * Royal Saudi Air Force ; *

Slovenian Air Force Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence is a part of the Slovenian Armed Forces. It is an integral part of the command structure, not an independent branch. Duties Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence aim is securing the sovereignty of the airspac ...

; * South Korean Air Force ;: * Sri Lanka Air Force ;: *

Tanzania People's Defense Force The Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) ( sw, Jeshi la Ulinzi la Wananchi wa Tanzania) is the Military, military force of the United Republic of Tanzania. It was established in September 1964, following a mutiny by the former colonial milit ...

; * Royal Thai Air Force * Royal Thai Police ; * Tunisian Air Force ; * Turkish Coast Guard Bell412 TurkishCoastGuard Teknofest2019 (3)

; *

United Arab Emirates Air Force The United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) ( ar, القوات الجوية والدفاع الجوي الاماراتي, al-Quwwāt al-Jawiyah wa al-Defa' al-Jawiy al-ʾImārāty) is the air force of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), part of the U ...

Bell 412EP Griffin HT1 of the RAF at RIAT 2010 arp

84 Squadron medevac exercise on HMS Enterprise MOD 45167266

; *

; * National Navy of Uruguay (2 on order) ; * Venezuelan Army *

Venezuelan Navy ) , mascot = , battles = Venezuelan War of Independence and the Battle of Lake Maracaibo , anniversaries = July 24, Birthday of Simon Bolivar, Navy Day and Battle of Lake Maracaibo A ...

; * Air Force of Zimbabwe

Government operators

; * Ambulance Victoria (replaced with the

AgustaWestland AW139 The AgustaWestland AW139 is a medium-lift twin-engined helicopter developed and produced by the Anglo-Italian helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland, later wholly owned by Leonardo S.p.A. It is marketed at several different roles, including ...

in 2016) *

Babcock Mission Critical Services Bond Aviation Group was a British helicopter operator based at Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton. It was purchased by Babcock International in 2014. It incorporated Bond Air Services, now renamed Babcock Mission Critical Services Onshore, and ...

* Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Western Australia * Emergency Management Queensland *

New South Wales Police Force The New South Wales Police Force (NSW Police Force; previously the New South Wales Police Service and New South Wales Police) is the primary law enforcement agency of the state of New South Wales, Australia. Divided into Police Area Commands ...

* 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 Suburu Bell 412EPXs for delivery in October 2023 ; * Police of the Czech Republic Bell412 OH HVD

; *

Finnish Border Guard The Finnish Border Guard (; ) is the agency responsible for enforcing the security of Finland's borders. It is a military organisation, subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior in administrative issues and to the President of Finland in iss ...

; *

Indonesian National Police '' , mottotranslated = (Serving the Nation) , formed = , preceding1 = , dissolved = , superseding = , employees = 440,000 (2020) , volunteers = , budget = , nongovernment ...

- 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 LACoFD Air 18

; *

Chicago Fire Department The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) provides fire suppression, rescue services, Hazardous Materials Response services and emergency medical response services to the city of Chicago, Illinois, United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Ch ...

Delaware State Police The Delaware State Police (DSP) is a division of the Delaware Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security and is responsible for traffic regulation and law enforcement across the state of Delaware, especially in areas underserved by local ...

* 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 The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services for unincorporated areas of Orange County, California as well as 25 cities within the county that contract OCFA's services. There ...

* San Diego Fire Department * United States Park Police * Virginia State Police

Former operators

; *

Uganda Air Force Ugandan People's Defence Force Air Force, more commonly known as Ugandan Air Force, is the branch of the Uganda People's Defence Force that deals with the air warfare. It headquarters is located at Entebbe, Uganda. The current air force command ...

Incidents and accidents

On April 4, 1991, a Bell 412 and Piper Aerostar collided in mid-air over a suburb of

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...

. 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 AirCareAirCare
/ref> 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)

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
{{JSDF aircraft designations 1980s United States helicopters 1980s United States civil utility aircraft 1980s Canadian helicopters Twin-turbine helicopters Aircraft first flown in 1979

412 __NOTOC__ Year 412 ( CDXII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known in Europe as the Year of the Consulship of Honorius and Theodosius (or, less frequently, yea ...