Bell 212 vs Bell 206

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 212
For sale now
10
Listed on 2+ marketplaces
6
Source marketplaces
6
Model years available
1976–1996
Bell 206

No active listings right now.

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 212Bell 206
All events541329
Serious10192
Fatal17317
Fatalities45670
% Fatal31%24%
View full Bell 212 NTSB record →View full Bell 206 NTSB record →

Full Specs Comparison

Swipe to see all specs
Spec / Model Bell 212 Bell 206
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 212

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

Bell 206

Which Should You Buy: Bell 212 or Bell 206?

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 212 if…

Pick the 206 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 212 or Bell 206?
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 212 and Bell 206?
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