Check out the US accident statistics for these machines
here.
These accident rates are for gyroplanes only, do not include homebuilt helicopters. As there is (in my opinion) a complete lack of regulatory control over these aircraft, the only way you can get a feel for safety in this category is to review the accident statistics.
I think that Whirly has hit the nail firmly on the head - these machines are being built by people who do not have the first clue about what they are doing. I have seen workmanship so poor on some of these pieces of equipment, that I do not understand how they ever got airborne at all. Of course, the fact that many people do not know how to operate them doesn't help matters any.
I think that a lot of them get completed then spend the rest of their lives sitting around the corner of a garage, otherwise the accident rate would be even higher!
Scary machines, just like homebuilt helicopters!
Can't get that hyperlink to work right. Sorry about the long string.
[This message has been edited by Cyclic Hotline (edited 21 June 2001).]