Bell 412
Multipurpose utility helicopter
National originUnited States/Canada
ManufacturerBell Helicopter
First flightAugust 1979 (age 47)
Introduction1981 (age 45)
Primary userJapan Ground Self Defence Force
More usersSee Operators for others
Produced1979–present
Number built1,300+[1]
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 by Agusta in Italy as the Agusta-Bell AB412, in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace, and in Japan by Fuji Heavy Industries. The CH-146 Griffon, a Bell 412 variant for the Canadian Armed Forces, is manufactured in Bell-Textron's main commercial factory in Mirabel, Quebec.

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.[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 upgrade for the PT6T-9 engine, and a glass cockpit display system similar to the one installed on the Bell 429. Also featured is a Garmin touchscreen navigation system, plus the BLR Strake and Fast Fin upgrades for improved hover performance.[4]

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.[5]

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).[6] The Bell 412 was also initially manufactured in Texas, USA.[7]

The emergency medical configuration can carry 6 patients/wounded and two attendants, or two stretchers and up to four attendants.[5]

By 2022, over 1,300 Bell 412 helicopters had been delivered.[8]

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 412EPI
Glass cockpit version with P&WC PT6T-9 electronic controlled engines
Bell 412EPR
Modernization program for Bell 412EP, which includes glass cockpit and new avionics.[9]
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]
IPTN / Indonesian Aerospace NBell 412
Indonesian Aerospace's (formerly IPTN) licensed product of Bell 412.[11]
Indonesian Aerospace Gandiwa
Proposed tandem-seat attack helicopter design based on NBell 412 developed by Indonesian Aerospace and Indonesian Army Research and Development Service in 2012–2014. Development was discontinued due to poor potential sales.[13][14]
Subaru-Bell UH-2 (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.[15][16][17][18]
Subaru-Bell 412EPX
Commercial version of UH-X.[19][20]
H.1B
(Thai: ฮ.๖ข) Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the Bell 412.[21]
H.1C
(Thai: ฮ.๖ค) Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the Bell 412(HP)SP.[21]
H.1E
(Thai: ฮ.๖ง) Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the Bell 412EP.[21]
H.LL.2
(Thai: ฮ.ลล.๒) Royal Thai Navy designation for the Bell 412.[21]

Operators

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[22] and US$16 million.[23]

Military operators

Algeria
Algerian Air Force[24]
Argentina
Argentine Air Force[24]
Australia
Australian Army : 2 under lease at Army Aviation Training Center.[25]
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani Air Force[24]
Bahrain
Bahraini Air Force[24]
Botswana
Botswana Defence Force[24]
Cameroon
Cameroon Air Force[24]
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[24]
Colombia
Colombian Navy[24]
Cyprus
Cypriot National Guard[26]
El Salvador
Salvadoran Air Force[24]
Eritrea
Eritrean Air Force[24]
Ghana
Ghana Air Force[24]
Guatemala
Guatemalan Air Force[24]
Guyana
Guyana Defence Force[24]
Honduras
Honduran Air Force[24]
Indonesia
Indonesian Army[24]
Indonesian Navy[24]
Italy
Italian Army[24]
Iraq
412M on order.[27]
Jamaica
Jamaica Defence Force[24]
Japan
Japan Ground Self Defence Force[24]
Lesotho
Lesotho Defence Force[24]
Mexico
Mexican Air Force[24]
Montenegro
Montenegrin Air Force[28]
Morocco
Moroccan Navy[24]
Nigeria
Nigerian Air Force[24]
Norway
Royal Norwegian Air Force[24]
Pakistan
Pakistan Air Force[24]
Pakistan Army[24]
Panama
National Aeronaval Service of Panama[24]
Peru
Peruvian Air Force[24]
Peruvian Navy[24]
Philippines
Philippine Air Force[29]
Philippine Army
Saudi Arabia
Royal Saudi Air Force[24]
Slovenia
Slovenian Air Force[24]
Somalia
Somali Air Force[30]
South Korea
South Korean Air Force[24]
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Air Force[24]
Tanzania
Tanzania Air Force Command[24]
Thailand
Royal Thai Air Force[24]
Tunisia
Tunisian Air Force[24][31]
Turkey
Turkish Coast Guard[32]
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates Air Force[24]
Uruguay
Uruguayan Navy[24]
Venezuela
Venezuelan Army[24]
Venezuelan Navy[24]
Zambian Air Force[33]
Zimbabwe
Air Force of Zimbabwe[24]

Government operators

Australia
Department of Fire and Emergency Services[34][35]
Emergency Management Queensland[36]
New South Wales Police Force[37]
New South Wales Rural Fire Service[38]
SAAS MedSTAR Retrieval Service[39]
Brazil
Federal Police[40]
Canada
Canadian Coast Guard[41][42]
National Research Council[43]
Surete du Quebec[44]
Colombia
National Police of Colombia[45]
Croatia
Croatian Ministry of Interior[46]
Czech Republic
Police of the Czech Republic[47]
Finland
Finnish Border Guard[48]
India
Government of Uttar Pradesh: Operates two Bell 412EP.[49][50]
Indonesia
Indonesian National Police[51]
Iran
Iranian Red Crescent Society[52]
Italy
Guardia di Finanza[53][unreliable source?]
State Forestry Corps[54]
Japan
Japan Coast Guard[55]
Tokyo Metropolitan Police[56]
South Korea
Coast Guard[57][58]
United States
Chicago Fire Department[59]
Delaware State Police[60]
Los Angeles Police Department[61]
Los Angeles County Fire Department[62]
Miami-Dade County Fire Department[63]
New York Police Department[64]
Orange County Fire Authority[65]
San Diego Fire Department[66]
United States Park Police[67]
Ventura County Fire Department[68]
Virginia State Police[69]
Kern County Fire Department

Former

Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Air Force. AB412 helicopters retired from SAR duties in 2015.[70]
Poland
Polish Air Force, 1 412HP used 1993–2011[71]
Slovenia
Slovenian National Police[72]
United States
Los Angeles Fire Department[73]
Uganda
Uganda Air Force[74]
United Kingdom
Royal Air Force

Incidents and accidents

References

Citations

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