Bell 407 (FADEC engine)
The Bell 407 is a multipurpose civil utility helicopter. It uses the four-blade, soft-in-plane rotor with composite hub developed for the United States Army, instead of the common two-blade. It is used for corporate and offshore transport, as an air ambulance, by law enforcement, and for electronic news gathering and motion picture filming. The Bell 407 blends reliability, speed, performance, and maneuverability with a cabin configurable for a variety of purposes and payloads. It provides a very quiet and smooth ride in all weather conditions, a clear and important reason for its popularity. Its turbine FADEC engine delivers exceptional hot and high altitude performance with the ability to cruise at 140 knots (259 km/hr). FADEC stands for full authority digital engine, and is characterized by the digital computer that is contained in the engine, optimizing it for peak engine performance, better fuel efficiency, and a higher safety rating.
Incidents with the Bell 407
- Number built: Over 1082
- Incidents recorded: 88
- Fatalities: 19
There have been a total of 88 recorded incidences with the Bell 407, according to the Aviation Safety Network. Accidents involving the Bell 407 had various causes from engine failure to tail rotor failure and human error. Most of the accidents happened when the helicopter was used as an air ambulance. There were also a large portion of accidents that happened when the helicopter was used to transport political figures and public officials, both within and outside the United States. These were generally mechanical malfunctions at a low altitude, with little to no fatalities.
- https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=17781
- https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=153633
- https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=154669
- https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=30438
Role of the Bell 407 | Multipurpose utility helicopter |
Manufacturer of the Bell 407 | Bell Helicopter Textron |
First flight of the Bell 407 | June 29, 1995 |
Introduction of the Bell 407 | 1996 |
Status of the Bell 407 | In service |
Bell 407 Production | 1995–present |
Number of Bell 407s built | 1,082 as of 2011 |
Unit cost of the Bell 407 | US$2.54 million (2009) |
Bell 407 Developed from | Bell 206L |
Variants of the Bell 407 | Bell ARH-70 |
Crew of the Bell 407 | 1 pilot |
Capacity of the Bell 407 | 7 people. Max hook capacity 1200 kg (2645 lb).[2] |
Length of the Bell 407 | 41 ft 8 in (12.7 m) |
Rotor Diameter of the Bell 407 | 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m) |
Height of the Bell 407 | 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m) |
Disc Area of the Bell 407 | 962 ft² (89 m²) |
Empty Weight of the Bell 407 | 2,668 lb (1,210 kg) |
Useful Load of the Bell 407 | 2,347 lb (internal) (1,065 kg (internal)) |
Max Takeoff Weight of the Bell 407 | 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) |
Powerplant of the Bell 407 | Allison 250-C47B turboshaft, 813 shp (606 kW) |
Maximum Speed of the Bell 407 | 140 knots (260 km/h) |
Cruise Speed of the Bell 407 | 133 knots (152 mp/h, 246 km/h) |
Range of the Bell 407 | 324 nmi (372 mi, 598 km) |
Service Ceiling of the Bell 407 | 18,690 ft (5,698 m) |
Photo Credit: flickr.com - Konflikty.pl, via Wikimedia Commons
Related Articles
Notable Cases
Reno Air Race Disaster
On September 16, 2011, a highly modified P-51D Mustang crashed near the spectator area at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada, killing the pilot and ten spectators, and injuring at least seventy other spectators. It is the third deadliest airshow disaster in United States history. The racecourse was 8.5 miles long, marked by…
Case DetailsYork v. Tropic Air
On September 7, 2008, a Cessna 208B Caravan operated by Tropic Air lost engine power shortly after takeoff from Belize City Municipal Airport. The flight was headed to Philip S.W. Goldson International airport in Belize City with four U.S. citizens and one pilot on board. Almost immediately after takeoff, the engine failed, and the pilot…
Case DetailsMills v. Cessna Aircraft Company
A Cessna 208 Caravan with registration number N9530F crashed shortly after take off from the Dillingham, Alaska airport. The pilot and nine passengers were killed, and the airplane was destroyed. The plane crashed less than a mile from the end of the runway during daylight hours and in visual meteorological conditions. The flight was bound…
Case DetailsMcKenna v. Pratt & Whitney
On October 18, 2005, at approximately 11:15 PM, a single-engine Cessna 208 turbo-prop airplane with registration number N978FE was forced to land after it lost power near Round Rock, Texas. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The cross-country flight originated at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and was destined for Fort Worth Alliance Airport, near Fort Worth, Texas. …
Case DetailsFuddy v. Makani Kai Air
Shortly after taking off from Kaluapapa Airport bound for Honolulu, a Cessna 208B Caravan with registration number N687MA operated by Makani Kai Air experienced an engine failure and crashed into the ocean off Moloka’i. The flight was an air taxi commuter flight between two Hawaiian islands with eight passengers on board. Many of the passengers…
Case DetailsFry et al. vs. Cessna Aircraft Company
On November 8, 2002, a Cessna 208B Caravan turboprop left Las Vegas, Nevada bound for Midland, Texas with three passengers and a pilot. At approximately 10:20 PM, the plane impacted terrain approximately three miles south of Parks, Arizona. At the time, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed. A significant meteorological advisory for severe turbulence due north of…
Case DetailsFlightSafety International Inc. v. Dallas Airmotive, Inc.
On October 30, 2014, a Beechcraft King Air B200 airplane with registration number N52SZ, crashed into the FlightSafety International building as it attempted a takeoff from Wichita Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita, Kansas. The only occupant of the airplane was the pilot, who was killed in the crash. In addition, three occupants of the building were…
Case DetailsNicholson/Riola Estates v. Rico Aviation
On April 28, 2017, a Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC12 with registration number N933DC crashed near the Rick Husband Amarillo International Airport shortly after take off. The plane was operated as an air ambulance flight and was en route to Clovis, New Mexico to transport a patient back to Amarillo. The pilot and two medical flight…
Case DetailsTaquan Air
On July 10, 2018, a De Havilland DHC3T Otter airplane, N3952B, crashed into mountainous terrain near Ketchikan, Alaska. The plane held eleven occupants: a pilot and ten passengers. All of the passengers were injured, six seriously. The plane was registered to Blue Aircraft, LLC, and was operated by Taquan Air as a commercial on-demand flight.…
Case DetailsBarnes et al v. PB One Aviation LLC, et al
On September 12, 2013, a Pilatus Aircraft Ltd PC-12 with registration number N617BG aborted takeoff at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) when the plane began to settle back onto the runway during liftoff. The pilot and nine passengers were on board. Visual meteorological conditions were in force for this charter flight from Austin to Lubbock, Texas.…
Case Details