A helicopter crashed into the sea killing the pilot and his passenger instantly when the engine bearing failed, investigators have found.

Brian Bridgman, a commercial aviator from Canterbury, suffered a catastrophic loss of power as he flew back to Kent from Scotland.

Crash investigators have concluded that Mr Bridgman had attempted to land on a cliff-top as he lost power from his single turboshaft engine.

But witnesses on a nearby golf course described seeing the craft dip out of sight below the level of the 200ft cliff edge.

The 58-year-old has been described by family as a “brilliant pilot” who was also a Civil Aviation Authority-approved flight examiner.

According to a report by the government’s Air Accidents Aviation Branch, the helicopter was flying at low level when it ditched at the bottom of cliffs near Flamborough Head, Yorkshire.

Investigators say: “A loss of engine power occurred due to the failure of bearings within the turbine assembly, the cause of which could not be determined.

“When the loss of engine power occurred, the helicopter was not in a position from which it could land safely.”

Mr Bridgman and passenger John Kent - a 50-year-old pal from Essex – were killed in September 2014.

The pilot, from The Ropewalk, Canterbury, had more than 4,000 hours flying experience and operated for a commercial transit firm based at Manston airport.

On the fatal weekend he had conducted a number of flights in the Augusta Bell 206B five-seater around Scotland.

He was due to fly back from Edinburgh on Monday, September 15 but opted to delay departure due to bad weather.

Conditions had improved the following day and he set out with Mr Smith.

According to the investigators’ report, the pair reached the sea around 20 miles north of Newcastle and began to follow the coastline.

Witnesses at Flamborough Golf Club described seeing the helicopter flying level with the clifftop.

It banked around what appeared to be a headland before dipping out of sight.

The witnesses realised the aircraft had crashed and raised the alarm.

Both Mr Bridgman and Mr Kent were pronounced dead at the scene.

At the time, Mr Bridgman’s daughter told of her heartache at having read of her father’s death online from her home in Canada.

Katie Bridgman, 31, said: “Our world will never be the same again. We are truly broken.

“He was handsome, kind, caring, sensitive, talented and loved by everyone.”