Bell 206 vs Bell 212

The Bell 206 JetRanger and the Bell 212 are very different aircraft — the 206 is a five-seat light single-turbine; the 212 is a 15-seat medium twin-turbine derived from the UH-1 Huey lineage. They share Bell heritage but serve completely different missions.

Live Market Snapshot

Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · refreshed daily

Bell 206

No active listings right now.

Bell 212
For sale now
10
Listed on 2+ marketplaces
6
Source marketplaces
6
Model years available
1976–1996

Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.

Safety Record

Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.

NTSB (1982–now)Bell 206Bell 212
All events132954
Serious19210
Fatal31717
Fatalities67045
% Fatal24%31%
View full Bell 206 NTSB record →View full Bell 212 NTSB record →

Full Specs Comparison

Swipe to see all specs
Spec / Model Bell 206 Bell 212
Bell 212
View 10 listings →
Median $3,075,000
Price Range — $1,870,000 – $3,585,000
Category — Twin Turbine Helicopter
Model Specifications
Seats — 15
Fuel Burn — 80.0 GPH (303 L/h)
TBO — 3,500 hrs
Overhaul Cost — $450,000
Annual Fixed — $180,000
Hourly Variable — $900
Engines — 2 x Turbo-shaft

Cost of Ownership

Estimate

Bell 206

Bell 212

Fuel$440/hr
Variable$900/hr
Annual Fixed$180,000/yr
Total (200 hrs/yr) $360,000/yr

Which Should You Buy: Bell 206 or Bell 212?

Bottom line: Choose the 206 for light private, training, charter and utility roles in a single- turbine that is cheap to operate and supported everywhere. The 212 is for serious utility, offshore and EMS missions where twin-engine redundancy and 15-seat capacity are required — operating cost is multiples of the 206 and the 212 is not a sensible private-flying choice.

Pick the 206 if…

Pick the 212 if…

Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Bell 206 or Bell 212?
It depends on your mission and budget. Review the specs table above to find which fits your flying profile.
How do prices compare?
Prices vary by year, hours, avionics, and condition. Always get a pre-buy inspection.
What's the difference between Bell 206 and Bell 212?
212 engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6T-3;PT6T-3B.
Which is cheaper to operate per hour?
212: about $900/hr variable cost. Variable cost includes fuel, reserves and overhaul accruals. Annual fixed costs (hangar, insurance, annual inspection) add to the total.
Which has more seats and useful load?
212: 15 seats. Useful load = max gross weight minus empty weight; it determines how much fuel plus payload you can carry.
How does maintenance compare — TBO and overhaul cost?
212: 3,500-hour TBO, overhaul ~$450,000. Reaching the time-between-overhaul (TBO) triggers a mandatory engine/airframe rebuild that affects resale value.
Disclaimer: All prices and cost estimates are from third-party sources for informational purposes only. Always obtain professional appraisal and inspection before purchase.
Prices updated daily · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data