Bell 212

Development

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.

By 1971, the Bell 212 had been developed for commercial applications. Among the earliest uses of the type in civil aviation 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. 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 have 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.

Variants

• 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.

Operators

Civil and government operators

The Bell 212 is used by many private and commercial operators, it is particularly popular in the oil industries and for law enforcement use.

;

• State Investigation and Protection Agency ;
• Canadian Coast Guard - former operator of six 212s ;
• Croatian Police ;
• Policía Nacional de Colombia ;
• Air Greenland ;
• Iranian state ;
• Japan Coast Guard ;
• Police of North Macedonia

;

• Serbian Police ;
• Slovenian National Police since 2022 no longer uses the helicopter. They donated it to Pivka Park of Military History where it is displayed. ;
• Royal Thai Police ;
• San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
• San Diego Fire Department

Specifications (Bell 212)

|prime units?=kts General characteristics

|max takeoff weight lb=11200 |max takeoff weight note= Powerplant

• Blade Section: root: NACA 0010.8; tip: NACA 0005.4 mod Performance -- |never exceed speed kts=120 |never exceed speed note= |disk loading lb/sqft=6.19 |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass=

Notable incidents

• 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.
• 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, at Ulu Rampayoh in Mukim Labi. Twelve of the fourteen people on board were killed. The two survivors were in serious condition but recovered.
• 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.
• 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.

References

References

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2. Goold, Ian. (November 1987). "Canada Seeks Helicopter Self Sufficiency". Flight International.
3. "ElBell 212 en la Fuerza Aérea". FAA official magazine.
4. [https://janes.ihs.com/CustomPages/Janes/DisplayPage.aspx?DocType=Reference&ItemId=+++1311944&Pubabbrev=JHMS "Bell 212"] (subscription article). ''Jane's Helicopter Markets and Systems''. Jane's Information Group, 2 April 2013.
5. "Eagle Single | Airframe Customizations | Eagle Copters".
6. "Eagle Copters Obtains U.S. FAA Certification for the Eagle Single".
7. Canadian Coast Guard. (17 April 2012). "Coast Guard Rotary Wing Aircraft".
8. Johnson, Oliver. (5 January 2018). "Better, Faster, Stronger: The Canadian Coast Guard's new helicopter fleet". Vertical Magazine.
9. "Policija Fleet".
10. "CH-135 detailed list". rwrwalker.ca.
11. "Bell 212".
12. Regencia, Ted. (May 19, 2024). "Iran helicopter crash live news: Rescuers find President Raisi's aircraft". [[Aljazeera]].
13. "Japan Coast Guard Bell-212". 海上保安庁 2013 FlyTeam.
14. "Serbia Police Aviation". aeroflight.co.uk.
15. "Flota in oprema". policija.si.
16. "Thai Police Aviation Division". police.go.th.
17. "Aircraft Operated". sbcounty.gov.
18. "Dousing the Flames: San Diego Fire Department Air Ops Program". Access Intelligence, LLC.
19. Bell 212 Rotorcraft Flight Manual BHT-212IFR-FM-1 revision 3, 1 May 1998.
20. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage".
21. "2/1984 Bell 212, G-BDIL, 14 September 1982".
22. (2012-07-21). "12 killed in Brunei helicopter crash".
23. Ngui, Yantoultra. (2012-07-21). "Brunei air force helicopter crash kills 12; 2 survive".
24. (2012-07-22). "Brunei air force helicopter crash kills 12, two cadets survive".
25. Taylor, Jerome. (20 May 2024). "Helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi crashes, state media says". [[CNN]].
26. Zarracina, George Petras and Javier. "Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi dies in Vietnam-era Bell 212 helicopter crash on mountain".