Bell 222U

Aircraft Manufacturer: Bell

Model: 222U

Aircraft Details

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer Bell
Manufacturer Serial Number 1182140
Model 222U
Category Land
Aircraft Type Rotorcraft
Weight Class 2 (12,500 - 19,999 lbs gross take off weight)
Engine Type Turbo-shaft
Number of Engines 2 engines
Number of Seats 10 seats
Bell 222U Photo: Pete Markham — cc-by-sa-2.0 via Wikimedia Commons Have a personal photo of the Bell 222U? Contact us.

Safety Analysis

Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.

100%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).


3 exact, 0 recovered, 0 provisional

Methodology
3
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.


1 fatal accidents.

33.3% of recorded accidents were fatal.

2
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.


242

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).


Time series

Accidents by year

Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →

2010 – 2010 Total 3
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 3 observed): 2010 3. 1 2 3 4 0 3 '10
Composition

Phase of flight

Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.

2 categories Total 3
Enroute 2
Standing 1
Causes

Finding category

Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.

NTSB top-level codes Total 9
Personnel issues 5
Aircraft 3
Not determined 1
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 3
None 2
Fatal 1

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 091 (3)· UNK (1)

Recorded Accidents

All 3 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Los Angeles, CA N222AM unknown None Initial climb Personnel issues
Midlothian, TX N515MK Substantial Fatal Enroute Aircraft, Not determined
Santa Maria, CA N222UT Substantial None Prior to flight Aircraft, Personnel issues

Airworthiness Directives

Composition of FAA airworthiness directives (ADs) that apply to this model, as of October 15, 2026. ADs are mandatory FAA-issued corrective actions for safety-of-flight issues. Pilots, owners, and operators should always verify against the current FAA AD listing before any maintenance or flight action. Methodology →

16 active · 17 total airworthiness directives issued against this model · most recent:


Time series

Directives by year

Count of airworthiness directives issued against this model per calendar year (publication date in the Federal Register). Includes both active and superseded directives. An active AD still applies; a superseded one was replaced by a later AD.

2002 – 2016 Total 17
Airworthiness directives by year Airworthiness directives by year (total 17 observed): 2002 2, 2003 2, 2004 1, 2005 2, 2006 1, 2007 1, 2008 3, 2009 1, 2010 2, 2011 1, 2016 1. 1 2 3 4 0 2 '02 2 '03 1 '04 2 '05 1 '06 1 '07 3 '08 1 '09 2 '10 1 '11 1 '16

Recent directives

The most recent airworthiness directives applicable to this model, by effective date. A Superseded badge means a later AD has replaced this one; we still list the original so it isn't lost from the page.

AD number Effective date Subject Status
2016-08-17 Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Helicopters Active
2010-26-51 Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (BHTC) Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, 222, 222B, 222U, 230, 407, 427, and 430 Helicopters Active
2010-19-51 Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230, and 430 Helicopters Superseded
2010-10-12 Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 222, 222B, 222U, 230, and 430 Helicopters Active
2009-08-03 Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, 222, 222B, 222U, 230, 407, 427, and 430 Helicopters Active
Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.