This article is about the civil versions and operators of the Bell 212. For the military versions and operators, see UH-1N Twin Huey. For an overview of the whole Huey family of aircraft, see Bell Huey family. For the computer modem, see Bell 212A. Bell 212 Bell 212 operated by Kachina departs from the Moje SpaceportGeneral informationTypeMedium utility helicopterNational originUnited States/CanadaManufacturerBell HelicopterStatusProduction completedPrimary userCHC HelicopterHistoryManufactured1968–1998[1]Introduction date1968First flight1968Developed fromBell 204/205VariantBell UH-1N Twin HueyDeveloped intoBell 412
The Bell 212 (also known as the Bell Two-Twelve) is a two-blade, twin-engine, medium helicopter that first flew in 1968. Originally manufactured by Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, production was moved to Mirabel, Quebec, Canada in 1988, along with all Bell commercial helicopter production after that plant opened in 1986.[2][3]
The 212 was marketed to civilian operators and has up to a 15-seat capacity, with one pilot and fourteen passengers. In cargo-carrying configuration, the 212 has an internal capacity of 220 ft3 (6.23 m3). An external load of up to 5,000 lb (2,268 kg) can be carried.
Development[edit] This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Bell 212" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message)Based on the stretched fuselage Bell 205, the Bell 212 was originally developed for the Canadian Forces as the CUH-1N and later redesignated as the CH-135. The Canadian Forces took delivery of 50 starting in May 1971. At the same time the United States military services ordered 294 Bell 212s under the designation UH-1N.
German Bell 212 used as air ambulance by the Ministry of the InteriorBy 1971, the Bell 212 had been developed for commercial applications. Among the earliest uses of the type in civil iation was by Helicopter Service AS of Norway to be used in support of offshore drilling; it proved popular across the offshore sector in particular as it had been certified for operating under marginal weather conditions.[4] Today, the 212 can be found used in logging operations, maritime rescue and resupply in the Arctic on the Distant Early Warning Line or North Warning System.
The 212 is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 Twin-Pac made up of two coupled PT6 power turbines driving a common gearbox. They are capable of producing up to 1,800 shp (1,342 kW). Should one power section fail the remaining section can deliver 900 shp (671 kW) for 30 minutes, or 765 shp (571 kW) continuously, enabling the 212 to maintain cruise performance at maximum weight.
Early 212s configured with an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) package were required to he a large and very obvious fin attached to the roof of the aircraft, above and slightly behind the cockpit. This fin was initially determined necessary to alter the turning performance of the aircraft during complex instrument flight maneuvers, but is no longer required due to revised stipulations of the type certificate. Many aircraft still fly with the modification.
In 1979, with the purchase of eight by the Civil Air Authority, the 212 became the first U.S. helicopter sold in the People's Republic of China.
The ICAO designator for this aircraft as used in a flight plan is "B212". Bell developed the Model 212 further with the Bell 412; the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. The last Bell 212 was delivered in 1998.[1]
Variants[edit] Bell Model 212 - Bell Helicopters company designation for the UH-1N. Twin Two-Twelve - Civil utility transport version. It can carry up to 14 passengers. Agusta-Bell AB 212 - Civil or military utility transport version. Built under license in Italy by Agusta. Agusta-Bell AB.212ASW - Anti-Submarine Warfare variant of AB.212 Bell Model 412 - Bell 212 with a four-bladed semi-rigid rotor system. Eagle Single - Bell 212 converted to a single-engine configuration. Produced by Eagle Copters of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, using a Lycoming T5317A, T5317B, or T5317BCV engine.[5][6] Operators[edit] For military operators, see Bell UH-1N Twin Huey. Santa Barbara County Handcrew and a Bell 212 on the Day Fire Bangladesh Air Force Bell-212s flying in formation over the National parliament of Bangladesh Civil and government operators[edit]The Bell 212 is used by many private and commercial operators, it is particularly popular in the oil industries and for law enforcement use.
Canada Canadian Coast Guard - former operator of six 212s[7][8] Bangladesh Bangladesh Air Force operates 14 Bell 212 Bosnia and Herzegovina State Investigation and Protection Agency Croatia Croatian Police[9] Colombia Policía Nacional de Colombia[10] Greenland Air Greenland[11] Iran Iranian state[12] Japan Japan Coast Guard[13] North Macedonia Police of North Macedonia Bell 212 of the Macedonian Police (now Police of North Macedonia) flying over Skopje in 2008 Serbia Serbian Police[14] Slovenia Slovenian National Police[15] since 2022 no longer uses the helicopter. They donated it to Pivka Park of Military History where it is displayed. Thailand Royal Thai Police[16] United States San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department[17] San Diego Fire Department[18] Specifications (Bell 212)[edit] Bell 212 3-view drawing CockpitData from Bell 212 Rotorcraft Flight Manual[19]
General characteristics
Crew: 1 (two for IFR operation) Capacity: 14 passengers Length: 57 ft 1.68 in (17.4163 m) Height: 12 ft 6.83 in (3.8311 m) Empty weight: 6,529 lb (2,962 kg) Max takeoff weight: 11,200 lb (5,080 kg) Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3 or -3B coupled turboshaft engine, 1,800 shp (1,300 kW) (TwinPac) Main rotor diameter: 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m) Main rotor area: 1,809.5 sq ft (168.11 m2) Blade Section: root: NACA 0010.8; tip: NACA 0005.4 mod[20]Performance
Cruise speed: 100 kn (120 mph, 190 km/h) Never exceed speed: 120 kn (140 mph, 220 km/h) Range: 237 nmi (273 mi, 439 km) Service ceiling: 17,400 ft (5,300 m) Rate of climb: 1,745 ft/min (8.86 m/s) Disk loading: 6.19 lb/sq ft (30.2 kg/m2) Notable incidents[edit] 1982 Bristow Helicopters Bell 212 crash: On 14 September 1982, a medical evacuation helicopter flight operated by Bristow Helicopters crashed during the early hours of the morning in driving rain and poor visibility over the North Sea. All six crew members on board died when their aircraft plunged into the sea near the Murchison platform while trying to locate the Baffin Seal seismic survey vessel.[21] 2012 Rampayoh helicopter crash: On 20 July 2012, a Bell 212 helicopter of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) crashed in the region of Kuala Belait,[22][23] at Ulu Rampayoh in Mukim Labi. Twelve of the fourteen people on board were killed.[23] The two survivors were in serious condition but recovered.[24] 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash: On 19 May 2024, a Bell 212 helicopter operated by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Governor of East Azerbaijan Malek Rahmati, and the Supreme Leader's representative in East Azerbaijan Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem crashed near the Iranian city of Varzaqan, East Azerbaijan, killing all 8 people on board.[25][26] A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Bell 212 helicopter crashed into the Maduru Oya reservoir on May 9, 2025, resulting in the deaths of six military personnel(four army personnel and two air force personnel) The incident occurred during a demonstration for a Special Forces passing-out parade. A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Bell 212 helicopter crash-landed in the Gin Oya river near Lunuwila/Wennappuwa on 11/30/2025, during disaster relief operations, resulting in the death of the pilot. The pilot, Wing Commander Nirmal Siyambalapitiya, was posthumously promoted to the rank of Group Captain and has been hailed as a hero for his actions. See also[edit]Related development
Bell 204/205 Bell 412 Bell CH-146 Griffon Bell UH-1 Iroquois Bell UH-1N Twin Huey Bell UH-1Y VenomRelated lists
List of aircraft of the AOC List of civil aircraft References[edit] ^ a b "Bell 212" (subscription article). Jane's Helicopter Markets and Systems. Jane's Information Group, 2 April 2013. ^ Industry Canada (December 2010). "Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Ltd. – Complete Profile". Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2010. ^ Goold, Ian (November 1987). "Canada Seeks Helicopter Self Sufficiency". Flight International. Retrieved December 14, 2010. ^ "ElBell 212 en la Fuerza Aérea". FAA official magazine. Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved June 25, 2022. ^ "Eagle Single | Airframe Customizations | Eagle Copters". Retrieved May 6, 2020. ^ "Eagle Copters Obtains U.S. FAA Certification for the Eagle Single". Retrieved June 6, 2023. ^ Canadian Coast Guard (April 17, 2012). "Coast Guard Rotary Wing Aircraft". Archived from the original on April 20, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2012. ^ Johnson, Oliver (January 5, 2018). "Better, Faster, Stronger: The Canadian Coast Guard's new helicopter fleet". Vertical Magazine. Archived from the original on June 14, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2020. ^ "Policija Fleet". Helis.com. ^ "CH-135 detailed list". rwrwalker.ca. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2015. ^ "Bell 212". Retrieved October 24, 2019. ^ Regencia, Ted (May 19, 2024). "Iran helicopter crash live news: Rescuers find President Raisi's aircraft". Aljazeera. Retrieved May 19, 2024. ^ "Japan Coast Guard Bell-212". 海上保安庁 2013 FlyTeam. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved January 22, 2013. ^ "Serbia Police Aviation". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved January 14, 2014. ^ "Flota in oprema". policija.si. Retrieved December 23, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) ^ "Thai Police Aviation Division". police.go.th. Archived from the original on April 17, 2015. Retrieved April 17, 2015. ^ "Aircraft Operated". sbcounty.gov. Retrieved July 26, 2013. ^ "Dousing the Flames: San Diego Fire Department Air Ops Program". Access Intelligence, LLC. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2013. ^ Bell 212 Rotorcraft Flight Manual BHT-212IFR-FM-1 revision 3, 1 May 1998. ^ Lednicer, Did. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved April 16, 2019. ^ "2/1984 Bell 212, G-BDIL, 14 September 1982". GOV.UK. Retrieved May 21, 2024. ^ "12 killed in Brunei helicopter crash". CNN. July 21, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2024. ^ a b Ngui, Yantoultra (July 21, 2012). Popeski, Ron (ed.). "Brunei air force helicopter crash kills 12; 2 survive". Reuters. Retrieved July 20, 2024. ^ "Brunei air force helicopter crash kills 12, two cadets survive". Borneo Post Online. July 22, 2012. Retrieved July 20, 2024. ^ Taylor, Jerome (May 20, 2024). "Helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi crashes, state media says". CNN. Retrieved May 20, 2024. ^ Zarracina, George Petras and Jier. "Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi dies in Vietnam-era Bell 212 helicopter crash on mountain". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 21, 2024. Further reading[edit] Chant, Christopher. Fighting Helicopters of the 20th Century. Graham Beehag Books, Christchurch, Dorset, England (1996). Debay, Yves. Combat Helicopters, France: Histoire & Collections (1996). Mutza, Wayne. UH-1 Huey in Colors. Carrollton, TX: Squadron Signal. ISBN 0-89747-279-9. External links[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to UH-1 Twin Huey. The Bell 212 on Greg Goebel's Air Vectors vteBell Aircraft and Bell Helicopter/Bell Textron aircraftManufacturerdesignations 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 311 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 (I) 39 (II) 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 J 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70–1001 101 102 103 104 105 106 1071 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131–1991 200 201 2021 2031 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 2131 214 214ST 2151 216 2171 2181 2191 2201 2211 222 223–2291 230 231–2481 249 250–3001 301 302–3081 309 310–3591 360 361–3991 400 401–4051 406 407 4081 409 4101 4111 412 4131 4141 4151 4161 417 418–4261 427 4281 429 430 431–4391 440 4411 4421 4431 4441 445 4461 4471 4481 449 550–5041 505 506–5241 525 526–5321 533 534–5391 540 541–5471 548 549–5751 576 577–5821 583 846–5981 599 600–6081 609 610–6451 646 647–6791 680 681–9101 911 912–9171 918 D-188 D-255 D-292 Fighter aircraft YFM-1 P-39 XFL P-45 P-59 P-63 P-76 XP-77 XP-83 P-400 Target drones PQM-56 Attack helicopters 207 Bell AH-1 Singles Twins AH-1Z 309 YAH-63 360 Observation andutility helicopters H-13 H-13J UH-1 UH-1N UH-1Y TH-57 OH-58 TH-67 ARH-70 Commercial helicopters 47 47J 204 205 206 210 212 214 214ST 222 230 407 412 427 429 430 505 525 Tiltrotors V-22 V-247 V-280 AW609 TR918 QTR Us MQ-8C Non-production helicopters 400 417 440 Experimental aircraft ATV 201 533 D-188 D-255 D-292 FCX-001 L-39 LLRV/LLTV X-1 X-2 X-5 X-14 X-16 X-22 XF-109 XP-52 XV-3 XV-15 Names Airabonita Airacobra Airacomet Airacuda Arapaho BigLifter Caribou Cobra Creek Eagle Eye Fire Scout GlobalRanger Huey HueyCobra Invictus Iroquois JetRanger Jet Ranger X Kingcobra KingCobra Kiowa LongRanger Osprey Quad TiltRotor Ranger Sea Cobra Sea Ranger Sioux Sioux Scout SuperCobra Super Huey Super Transporter Twin Huey TwinRanger Valor Venom Vigilant Viper Zulu Cobra 1 Unknown/not assigned vteBell Huey familyMilitary H-40 H-48 H-63 HU-1 AH-1 J/T/W Z EH-1 HH-1 N TH-1 G UH-1 N Y VH-1 CH-118 CH-135 CH-146 249 309 533 Civilian 204 205 208 209 210 211 212 214 ST 412 450 ForeignproductionAgusta (Italy) AB.204 AB.205 AB.212 AB.412 Dornier (Germany) UH-1D Fuji/Subaru (Japan) UH-1J UH-2 204 205 412 IAIO (Iran) Toufan PANHA (Iran) Shabiz 2-75 2091 Topics Accidents and incidents 1982 Twilight Zone accident 2018 Sapphire Aviation crash 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash 2024 Pasaquina Bell UH-1 crash Displayed aircraft AH-1 In fiction AH-1 Operators Upgrade program Variants See also Bell 47 family Bell JetRanger family