Bell 412 Explained

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, 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

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.[1] 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.[2]

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.[3] Over 700 Model 412s (including 260 by AgustaWestland) have been built.[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, and also in Indonesia, and 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.

By 2022, over 1300 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 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.[9]
  • Agusta-Bell AB 412:Civil utility transport version, built under license in Italy by Agusta.[10]
  • Agusta-Bell AB 412EP: Italian-built version of the Bell 412EP.[10]
  • Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone: Military utility transport version, built under licence in Italy by Agusta.[10]
  • 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)[11]
  • NBell 412: Indonesian IPTN's licensed product of Bell 412[10]
    • Subaru-Bell UH-2 (formerly UH-X)[12] :Modified version of the Bell 412 EPI; 150 on order to meet the JGSDF's requirement for a UH-1J replacement.[13] [14] [15]
  • Subaru-Bell 412EPX:Commercial version of UH-X.[16]

    • 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
    Argentina
    Azerbaijan
    Bahrain
    Botswana
    Cameroon
    Canada

    See main article: Bell CH-146 Griffon.

    Chile
    Colombia
    Cyprus
    El Salvador
    Eritrea
    Ghana
    Guatemala
    Guyana
    Honduras
    Indonesia
    Italy
    Iraq
    Jamaica
    Japan
    Lesotho
    Mexico
    Montenegro
    Morocco
    Nigeria
    Norway
    Pakistan
    Panama
    Peru
    Philippines
    Saudi Arabia
    Slovenia
    Sri Lanka
    Thailand
    Tunisia
    Turkey
    United Arab Emirates
    Uruguay
    Zimbabwe

    Government operators

    Australia
    Brazil
    Canada
    Colombia
    Croatia
  • Croatian Ministry of Interior[34]
    Czech Republic
    Finland
    Indonesia
    Italy
    Japan
    Slovenia
    United States

    Former

    Netherlands
    United States
    Uganda
    United Kingdom

    Incidents and accidents

    References

    Sources

    External links

    Notes and References

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    12. Web site: Camp AKENO Junior Crew. www.mod.go.jp. 2019-05-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20190414152042/https://www.mod.go.jp/gsdf/akeno/photo.html. 2019-04-14. live.
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