Bell 412
- For an overview of the whole Huey family of aircraft see Bell Huey
| Bell 412 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Norwegian Bell 412SP helicopters taking part in the NATO exercise Strong Resolve 2002 | |
| Role | Multipurpose Utility helicopter |
| National origin | United States / Canada |
| Manufacturer | Bell Helicopter |
| Introduction | 1981 |
| Primary users | Canadian Forces Royal Air Force See Operators for others |
| Number built | over 869 |
| Developed from | Bell 212 |
| Variants | CH-146 Griffon |
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212 model, the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor.
Design and development
Development began in the late 1970s with two Bell 212 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 the deliveries commencing in the same month.[1]
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.[1] The current production version, 412EP (Enhanced Performance), is equipped with a dual digital automatic flight control system.
Over 700 Model 412s (including 260 by AgustaWestland) have been built.[2]
Variants
- Bell 412
- Utility transport helicopter.
- Bell 412EP
- Enhanced performance version.
- Bell 412HP
- High performance version.
- Bell 412SP
- Special performance version.
- Military 412
- Armed military version.
- CH-146 Griffon
- Utility transport helicopter for the Canadian Forces.
- Bell Griffin HT1
- Advanced training helicopter based on the Bell 412EP, operated by the RAF since 1997 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 84 Squadron RAF since 2003 at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus.
- Agusta-Bell AB 412
- Civil utility transport version, built under license in Italy by Agusta.[3]
- Agusta-Bell AB 412EP
- Italian-built version of the Bell 412EP.[3]
- Agusta-Bell AB 412 Grifone
- Military utility transport version, built under licence in Italy by Agusta.[3]
- Agusta-Bell AB 412 CRESO
- Italian-built version, fitted with a ground surveillance radar.
- NBell 412
- IPTN's licensed product of Bell 412[3]
Operators
Military operators
- see CH-146 Griffon
Civilian and government operators
- Snowy Hydro SouthCare Helicopter The Snowy Hydro SouthCare Bell 412 helicopter is a critical tool for the medical care of people located in the ACT and south eastern NSW
- Motor Accident Commission (MAC) Rescue Helicopters/MedSTAR Emergency Medical Retrievals (South Australia)
- Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service (New South Wales) Two Bell 412 aircraft operate out of the Newcastle base.
- Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia
- Ambulance Victoria - Air Ambulance has 4 of the type in service based around the state.
- Emergency Management Queensland, an agency of the Queensland Department of Community Safety which operates, amongst other things, the Queensland Government helicopter rescue service.[4]
- RACQ Careflight Rescue (A division of the Careflight Group Queensland).[5]
- Líder Taxi Aéreo, serving the Brazil offshore petroleum industry
- Brazilian Federal Police
- Brazilian Federal Highway Police
- Government of Antioquia Department
- Finnish Border Guard has 5 AB 412s in service.[6]
- Lahak Aviation.[7]
- Gulf Helicopters
- MVR Police
Montenegro government, for ambassador in Zagreb every day transportation
- Rent Helicopters-Transylvania Live
- Used by INEM (Part of Health Department)
- Department of Energy
- United States Park Police
- Delaware State Police[8]
- Los Angeles City Fire Department
- Los Angeles County Fire Department
- New York City Police Department
- Puerto Rico Police Department
- Miami-Dade County Fire Department
- Blackwater USA (private military and security company)
- Chicago Fire Department
- San Diego Fire Department
- Orange County Fire Authority
Incidents and accidents
- April 4th, 1991, a Bell 412 carrying US Senator Henry J. Heinz III collides with another aircraft, this killed the senator.
- February 6, 2008, a Bell 412 crashed due to a malfunction, killing Major General Javed Sultan, the commanding officer for Kohat garrison, along with two brigadiers and five other military personnel in South Waziristan Agency, Pakistan.[9][Copyright violation?]
- April 7, 2009, a Bell 412EP presidential helicopter operated by the Philippine Air Force crashed in bad weather on the slopes of Mount Pulag in Tinoc, Ifugao on a flight from Loakan Airport to Lagawe. All eight on board the helicopter died including four key aides of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.[10][11]
- November 22, 2010, a Bell 412 belonging to the Cameroon defense forces crashed en route to the country's capital Yaounde. It departed from the coastal city of Douala at 7:45AM and was due to arrive in Yaounde at 8:50 AM. The alert came 15 minutes after the aircraft was due to arrive. According to government sources, the aircraft had 3 crew and 2 passengers. There was one survivor. Among the casualties was retired Israeli Special Forces colonel Abraham Avir Silvan who worked as a consultant to the Cameroon government.
Specifications (412EP)
Data from International Directory of Civil Aircraft,[12] Bell 412EP Product Specifications[13]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1-2 pilots
- Capacity: up to 13 passengers, maximum external load of 4,500 lb (2,040 kg)Fuselage length: 43 ft (13.1 m)
Performance
See also
Related development
Related lists
References
- ^ a b Bell 412 on Airliners.net
- ^ Bell/Agusta Bell 412 – Medium Transport Helicopter, USA/Italy, Aerospace-Technology.com
- ^ a b c d Model 212 Twin Huey: USN-USMC UH-1N / Model 412, Vectorsite.net, 1 December 2007.
- ^ http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au/aviation/aircraft/
- ^ http://www.careflightgroup.com/page/racq-careflight-rescue/crew-and-fleet
- ^ http://www.raja.fi/rvl/home.nsf/pages/F8B5A9C8E896F3D1C2257360002350B8?opendocument
- ^ http://www.lahakaviation.com
- ^ http://www.bellhelicopter.com/en/company/pressReleases/PR_08_0224-02DelawareStatePoliceInc.cfma
- ^ "Kohat GOC, six other officers die in copter crash: Technical fault caused accident: ISPR". Dawn, 7 February 2008
- ^ Missing govt chopper supposed to return due to bad weather
- ^ No survivors in chopper crash
- ^ Frawley, Gerald. The International Directory of Civil Aircraft, 2003/2004, p. 45. Aerospace Publications, 2003. ISBN 1-875671-58-7.
- ^ Bell 412EP Product Specifications. Bell Helicopter, January 2006.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bell 412.
- Bell 412 page
- Bell 412 page and Bell 412 photos on airliners.net
- Bell / Agusta 412 page on aerospace-technology.com
- "Bahrain Requests 6 Bell 412", DefenseIndustryDaily.com
- US donated two Bell 412 EP helicopters to Pakistan