On the 1st August, 1979, Wing Commander Ranbir Singh Chauhan (8136) Flying (Pilot), who had successfully finished most of underslung load trials of various types of Army equipment on Mi-8 helicopter, was engaged in lifting and transporting bridging equipment weighing about two tons. In the course of this trial, one of the four load suspending cables snapped and caused the aircraft to oscillate and gyrate in an uncontrollable manner. When no other alternative to control the aircraft, Wing Commander Chauhan decided to jettison the load, he noticed that he was flying over populated area where the heavy load could cause a human disaster. He, therefore, manoeuvred the aircraft away from the inhabited area but could not jettison the load as the electric control cable got snapped due to heavy strain. The aircraft by that time had gone out of control. However, Wing Commander Chauhan did not lose his presence of mind and, as soon as the load touched the ground, he managed to land the aircraft without any further damage to it and with its crew unharmed.

In this action, Wing Commander Ranbir Singh Chauhan displayed courage, presence of mind and professional skill of a high order.