Apparently, Nick L knows test pilots who've bailed out of uncontrollable machines...
I seem to remember a "bunch" of FTEs and TPs bailing out from one of the prototype Merlins that crapped itself at altitude - all survived
He was a Sikorsky test pilot and his name was Obie Blanchard. He didn't survive as he got caught in the spinning rotors when the falling helicoter flew into his shroud lines.
Up to the reunification in the East German Airforce all helicopterpilots weared chutes and all pilots performed a complete chute training each year including jumps from helicopters or planes. As argumentation was said an increased safety on IFR flights and in case of technical problems with the controls, hydraulics, blade or gearboxfailure or fire on board.
In 1976 a helicopter acted in 1000ft as a training target to fighterjets. One of the jetjockeys was really hot and dropped below the safety distance and height to the helicopter. Short a midair with 2 chutes on the blue sky and a big firework on the ground from the downed and burning jet. On one chute was the ace and on the other the helicopter PIC. The helicopter was hitted on the main rotorblades and lost some outer bladeparts. The normal result was a tumbling and heavy vibrating chopper, in deep trouble to disintegrate complete in the air. The PIC ordered the crew to an immediate rescue parachute jump, dropped his sidedoor and out he was. The copilot dropped also his door and was going to jump, but in this moment he was gripped by the engineer. This SOB was searching for his chute because he feeled to be on a pleasure flight and wasn't linked to his chute, again orders. Thats more comfortable! The copilot was able to sail down the fluttering and nearly uncontrollable ship to mother earth in one piece but that was changed in several loops on the ground. All 4 soldiers survived only minor injured! Against rumours the fighterpilot wasn't awarded for an airvictory.
Today helicopters are much more improved. But with an old ship in case of an complete electrical failure on IFR or engine failure in the dark night, i would prefer the chute.