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
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