Bell 222 Helicopter 1980s
1980s helicopters include Bell 206L LongRanger (stretched JetRanger), Bell 222, Aerospatiale AS350 Ecureuil (early), Hughes 500D / MD 500E. Component-overhaul status (rotor head, gearbox, engine) dominates value on these 40+ year airframes. Wire-strike protection systems retrofit is common in utility-operated aircraft; verify status.
4 used Bell 222 helicopters for sale 1980s · 2-seat · $695K – $950K · updated 18 hours ago
About the Bell 222
The Bell 222 (and re-engined Bell 230) is a 1980s light-to-medium twin-turbine — a sleek, retractable-gear helicopter most famous as the helicopter in the 1980s TV series Airwolf. Twin Lycoming LTS101 engines (later replaced by Rolls-Royce 250-C30 on the 230), retractable gear and a stand-up cabin made it the most modern civil twin of its era. Used for corporate, EMS and charter roles. The 230 was a re-engined upgrade; the later 430 (separate page) stretched the design.
Bell 222 Specifications
Model specThe Bell 222 is a 2-seat twin turbine helicopter with a cruise speed of 10 kt (19 km/h).
4 Bell 222 For Sale
There are currently 4 used Bell 222 for sale, ranging from $695,000 to $950,073, with a median asking price of $822,536.
Compare Bell 222
See how the Bell 222 stacks up against similar aircraft in specs, price, and operating costs.
Bell 222 Price & Cost
How much does a Bell 222 cost? Used 222 prices: $695K – $950K, average $822K (median $822K), across 2 priced of 4 active listings.
Based on 2 priced listings.
Key price factors: engine time to overhaul, year and airframe hours, avionics, damage history and logbook completeness — see the buying guide below for the full pre-purchase checklist.
Buying a Used Bell 222
Buying a Bell 222 centres on its turbine engine(s) — time to overhaul, hot-section history and any engine maintenance program — alongside airframe hours and cycles.
What to check before buying
- Turbine engine status — hot-section and overhaul time, trend monitoring and whether the engine is on a maintenance program.
- Airframe hours & cycles — high-utilisation turboprops accumulate cycles quickly; cycles can matter more than hours.
- Equipment — cargo pod, floats/amphibian gear, de-ice and avionics all affect value.
- Corrosion & logbooks — continuous records and a corrosion inspection, especially on float or marine-operated aircraft.
- Pre-buy inspection — commission an independent pre-buy by a type-experienced shop.
Frequently Asked Questions — Bell 222
Cost?
222 vs 230?
Airwolf?
Parts?
Bell 222 Inventory by Country
| United States | 2 |
| Australia | 1 |
| Ireland | 1 |
| South Africa | 1 |
Bell 222 Safety Record
Across all 222 variants, 48 NTSB-recorded events are on file from 1982–2025. As with any aircraft, most outcomes depend on pilot training, maintenance and operating conditions rather than the airframe itself.
Most Recent Events
| Date | Location | Severity | Probable Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 11, 2025 | Huntington Beach, CA | Serious | — |
| Apr 26, 2019 | Addis Ababa, | Incident | — |
| Mar 30, 2019 | Montgomery, NY | Minor | A partial loss of engine power, as reported by the pilot, during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based … |
| Sep 04, 2010 | Los Angeles, CA | Incident | Failure of the air traffic controller to exercise positive control of the situation by issuing clear and timely control … |
| Jun 02, 2010 | Midlothian, TX | Fatal (2) | The fracture of a swashplate drive pin as a result of hydrogen embrittlement due to an unknown source, which resulted in… |
NTSB records 1982–2025. Includes all Bell 222 variants. Events ≠ aircraft fault.