Bell 412

Bell · United States · first flew 1979 · helicopter

The Bell 412 is a twin-engine medium helicopter derived from the Bell 212, its key advance being a four-blade composite main rotor.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, rotary
E — Engines	2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	12.7 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Four-blade main rotor distinguishing it from the two-blade Huey/212
Tall rounded twin-engine Huey-lineage cabin on skids
Wide jettisonable sliding cabin doors and large windows

The four-blade main rotor over a classic Huey silhouette is the giveaway, with a tall rounded cabin, skid gear and a two-blade tail rotor.

Specifications

The Bell 412 has a length of 12.7 m (42 ft).
It has a wingspan of 14.02 m (46 ft).
Its maximum speed is 240 km/h (149 mph).
Typical crew: 1-2 pilots.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Bell developed the 412 from the Twin Huey in the late 1970s, replacing the two-blade rotor with a four-blade composite system for a smoother ride and higher capability. It first flew in 1979 and entered wide military and civil service.

Variants

Major models include the original 412, the 412EP with a digital flight control system, and the 412EPI with a glass cockpit and FADEC PT6T-9 engines. The line is also licence-built as the Agusta-Bell AB412 and continues as the Subaru Bell 412EPX.

Where you'll see it

It serves in utility transport, SAR, police, firefighting, HEMS and offshore support worldwide. In the UK the closely related Griffin variant served the RAF as a multi-engine training and SAR helicopter.

Related aircraft

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