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Bell 412EP

Type (Muster)
Medium-weight multi-purpose helicopter (mittelschwerer Mehrzweckhubschrauber)

Country (Land)
USA

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Bell Helicopter
PO Box 482
Fort Worth, Texas 76101
USA

Phone: 001-817/280-2800
Fax: 001-817/280-2800
Internet: http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com

The Bell 412EP is actually built at Bell Helicopter in Mirabel, Canada.

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1 – 2 in cockpit area
Passengers (Passagiere): 13 in two rows and four side-facing seats plus one in the cockpit. VIP interior with 5 seats plus two side facing seats. In the EMS role, the 412EP can carry two critical patients with four medical attendants.

Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3D Twin Pac turboshaft
Power (Leistung): 1 x 1342 kW (1800 shp) for take-off and maximum continuous, 850 kW (1140 shp) on one half of the engine for 2,5 minutes in case of emergency. Transmission rated at 1022 kW (1370 shp) for five minutes and 828 kW (1110 shp) max. continuous.
Fuel consumption (Kraftstoffverbrauch): 354,7 kg/h at max. cruise

Take-off noise (Geräuschniveau beim Start): 92,8 EPNdB
Flyover noise (Geräuschniveau beim Überflug): 93,4 EPNdB
Approach noise (Geräuschniveau beim Landeanflug): 95,6 EPNdB

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 12,91 m
Length overall, rotors turning (Gesamtlänge): 17,13 m
Width over skids (Breite über Kufen): 2,89 m m
Height (Höhe): 3,48 m to top of rotor head, 4,54 m over turning tail rotor
Rotor diameter (Hauptrotordurchmesser): 14,02 m
Main rotor disk area (Hauptrotorkreisfläche): 154,4 sq m
Tail rotor diameter (Heckrotordurchmesser): 2,61 m
Tail rotor disk area (Heckrotorkreisfläche): 5,38 sq m

Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): ca. 3,45 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): ca. 1,25 m
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 2,44 m maximum
Cabin area (Kabinengrundfläche): 5,7 sq m including cockpit
Cabin volume (Kabinenvolumen): 6,8 cu m, including cockpit
Baggage hold (Gepäckraum): 0,8 cu m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 3099 kg in VFR standard configuration, 3146 kg with VFR equipment
Useful load (Zuladung): 2299 kg
Max. external load (max. Außenlast): 2041 kg
Fuel (Kraftstoff): 1250 litres
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 5398 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed (Höchstgeschwindigkeit): 259 km/h at sea level
Maximum cruise speed (max. Reisegeschwindigkeit): 226 km/h at sea level, 230 km/h at 1525 m
Long range cruise speed (Langstrecken-Reisegeschwindigkeit): 241 km/h at 1525 m
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 1646 m with one engine failed at continuous power
Hover ceiling OGE (Schwebeflughöhe ohne Bodeneffekt): 1585 m or 4205 m at 4310 kg, standard day
Hover ceiling IGE (Schwegeflughöhe mit Bodeneffekt): 3110 m ISA or 1890 m at ISA + 20 deg C or 5305 m ISA at 4310 kg
Range (Reichweite): 745 km or 784 km at 4310 kg all-up weight
Endurance (Flugdauer): 3,7 h at 130 km/h loiter speed, ISA

Costs (Kosten)
In 2002, prices mentioned were 5,56 million US-Dollars for the VFR version and 5,8 million US-Dollars for the IFR variant.
In February 2001, the 412EP cost 5,4 million US-Dollars VFR and 5,64 million US-Dolars with IFR equipment. In January 1999, the 412EP was priced at 4,895 million US-Dollars, or 5,12 million with IFR equipment.
Average operating costs per hour were given as 896,95 US-Dollars in January 2006, with fuel at 2,25 Dollars per gallon.
Operating costs were put at 724,59 million US-Dollars in February 2001, up from 685,19 US-Dollars per hour in January 1999, with fuel at 1,5 US-Dollars per gallon and a labor rate of 50 US-Dollars per hour.

Customers (Kunden)
In the summer of 2005, there were more than 700 Bell 412s operating throughout the world in a wide variety of commercial and military missions. Of these, 384 were conducting missions in the military or para-military services of 28 countries.
By September 2000, some 580 Bell 412s of all variants were built in the USA and Canada.
33 were delivered in 2004. 25 delivered in 2002, 22 in 2001, 24 in 2000 and 26 in 1999. Bell delivered 25 Model 412s in 1996, plus 35 of the CF variant for Canada.
Among known 412EP customers are:

Atlantic Airways: 1. Took delivery of a new 412EP on March 5, 2001 for SAR missions in the Faroe Islands
Canadian Armed Forces: 100. Procured as CH-146 Griffon. Deliveries started in October 1994 and the last helicopter was handed over in January 1998.
Defence Helicopter Flying School: 11. Nine received from April 1997 for training at RAF Shawbury. Two more ordered in June 2002 for 11 million US-Dollars.
Defence Secretariat of Mexico: 4. Delivered in mid-2002.
Khalifa Group: 1. Received in June 2002.
Macedonia Police Helicopter Unit: 1. Delivered in November 2000.
New York City Police Aviation Department: 1. Delivered in September 2003.
Offshore Logistics: 4. Purchased four in June 2001 with an option for eight additional helicopters.
Pakistan: 26. Bell announced in July 2004 that it is delivering 26 412EPs and associated equipment in a deal valued at over 230 million US-Dollars. Nine were handed over in June 2004, with the rest following until early 2005.
Philippine Air Force: 4. Ordered in late 1996.
Royal Saudi Air Force: 16. Specially equipped 412EPs, also designated 412SA, with deliveries commencing in 2002.
Slovenian Territorial Forces: 3. Handed over in 1995.
Venezuelan Navy: 4. Delivered in 1999.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
AgustaWestalnd AB139
Eurocopter EC 155B1
Sikorsky S-76C++

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The 412 is a member of the UH-1N/Bell 212 family, featuring a four blade main rotor with elastomeric bearings. Bell claims that the 412EP offers the lowest seat-mile costs in its class and the highest dispatch reliability of any twin-engine helicopter.

History (Geschichte)
The Model 412 was announced on 8 September 1978. It received its FAA certification on 9 January 1981. Delivereies started on 18 January.
After 213 were built in the USA, production was transferred to the Mirabel plant in Canada in February 1989.
During its life, the original 412 was upgraded several times:

412SP: Features increased take-off weight and more fuel.
412HP: Certified on 5 February 1991 with improved transmission for better hover performance. Canada uses a military version (412CF alias CH-146).
412EP: Enhanced Performance variant introduced in the mid-90s with new PT6T-3D engine and dual digital automatic flight control system.
412EP Sentinel: Modified by Heli-Dyne in Dallas with Radar, sonar and other mission equipment for anti-submarine and anti-ship duties. Was intended for the Ecuadorean Navy, but not delivered.
412SA: Variant for Royal Saudi Air Force, which has ordered 16. Deliveries started in 2002. Features PT6T-9 with EEC allowing for improved OEI operations and new cockpit incorporating four 6 x 8 inch LCDs by Rogerson-Kratos. Also fitted with military radios, 4-axis autopilot and FMS.
412Plus: Projected variant with take-off weight increased to 5647 kg, studied in 1999 but abandoned in 2001.

In October 2005, Bell Helicopter presented a formal proposal in response to the Army's Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) request for proposal issued on July 27. After considering the Bell 210 for a long time, the company offered the 412EP. At that time, the fleet had logged more than three million flight hours.

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Last updated 14 February 2006

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