Bell 412


 * For an overview of the whole Huey family of aircraft see Bell Huey

The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter. 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 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.

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 engine control (a.k.a. FADEC) for a PT6T-9 engine upgrade, and a glass cockpit display system similar to the Bell model 429. Also featured is a Garmin touch-screen navigation system, and the BLR Strake and Fast Fin upgades for improved hover performance.

Over 700 Model 412s (including 260 by AgustaWestland) have been built.

Variants

 * 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 412EP: Enhanced performance version with P&WC PT6T-3DF engines
 * Bell 412EPI:Glass cockpit version with P&WC PT6T-9 electronic controlled engines
 * 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.
 * 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.
 * Agusta-Bell AB 412 CRESO: Italian-built version, fitted with a ground surveillance radar.
 * NBell 412: IPTN's licensed product of Bell 412

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

 * Algerian Air Force
 * Argentine Armed Forces (2 on order)
 * Botswana Defence Force
 * Cameroon Air Force
 * see Bell CH-146 Griffon
 * Chilean Air Force
 * Colombian Air Force
 * Dominican Air Force (2 on order)
 * Air Force of El Salvador
 * Eritrean Air Force
 * Gabonese Air Force
 * Ghana Air Force
 * Honduran Air Force
 * Indonesian Army
 * Indonesian Navy
 * Indonesian Air Force
 * Italian Army
 * Jamaica Defence Force
 * Lesotho Defence Force
 * Mexican Air Force
 * Royal Netherlands Air Force
 * Royal Norwegian Air Force
 * Pakistan Air Force
 * Pakistan Army
 * Panamanian Public Forces
 * Peruvian Air Force
 * Peruvian Army
 * $\phi$
 * Philippine Air Force
 * Polish Air Force
 * Royal Saudi Air Force
 * Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence
 * Republic of Korea Air Force
 * Coast Guard
 * Sri Lanka Air Force
 * Royal Thai Air Force
 * Royal Thai Army
 * Turkish Coast Guard
 * Uganda People's Defence Force
 * United Arab Emirates Air Force
 * Royal Air Force
 * Venezuelan Army
 * Armada
 * Air Force of Zimbabwe
 * Pakistan Army
 * Panamanian Public Forces
 * Peruvian Air Force
 * Peruvian Army
 * $\phi$
 * Philippine Air Force
 * Polish Air Force
 * Royal Saudi Air Force
 * Slovenian Air Force and Air Defence
 * Republic of Korea Air Force
 * Coast Guard
 * Sri Lanka Air Force
 * Royal Thai Air Force
 * Royal Thai Army
 * Turkish Coast Guard
 * Uganda People's Defence Force
 * United Arab Emirates Air Force
 * Royal Air Force
 * Venezuelan Army
 * Armada
 * Air Force of Zimbabwe
 * Royal Thai Army
 * Turkish Coast Guard
 * Uganda People's Defence Force
 * United Arab Emirates Air Force
 * Royal Air Force
 * Venezuelan Army
 * Armada
 * Air Force of Zimbabwe
 * Royal Air Force
 * Venezuelan Army
 * Armada
 * Air Force of Zimbabwe
 * Air Force of Zimbabwe
 * Air Force of Zimbabwe

Governmental operators
🇦🇺
 * Ambulance Victoria
 * Emergency Management Queensland
 * Federal Police
 * Police of the Czech Republic
 * Carabinieri
 * Guardia di Finanza
 * Delaware State Police
 * Los Angeles City Fire Department
 * Los Angeles County Fire Department
 * Miami-Dade County Fire Department
 * New York City Police Department
 * Orange County Fire Authority
 * San Diego Fire Department
 * United States Park Police
 * New York City Police Department
 * Orange County Fire Authority
 * San Diego Fire Department
 * United States Park Police

Incidents and accidents
On April 4, 1991, a Bell 412 collided with a small plane carrying United States Senator H. John Heinz III, which killed the senator.

On 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.

On 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.

On November 22, 2010, a Bell 412 belonging to the Cameroon defense forces crashed en route from Douala to the country's capital Yaounde. According to government sources, the aircraft had 3 crew and 2 passengers. There was one survivor, retired Israeli Special Forces colonel Abraham Avir Silvan who worked as a consultant to the Cameroon government.

On August 3, 2011, a Bell 412 carrying 10 passengers crashed shortly after it took off from Manado, Indonesia at 2:30 p.m. local time. All the passengers worked for Newcrest Mining. The Bell 412 was bound for the Gosowong gold mine on the nearby island of Halmahera. There was a lone survivor, but he died later. Bad weather was blamed for the crash.