-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Df/ZqIT+Ra0LexwhtYMSG4ryrjElS3JzKQMdXZYyEN0yUIAGNQaMoK7R3IcZiac5
 NiCH0Nn2nn7TBHSAtgjiDA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-001939.txt : 20040129
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-001939.hdr.sgml : 20040129
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040129151643
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-001939
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040127
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040129

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHAULSON JOSEPH H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235215

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08472
		FILM NUMBER:		04552239

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O HEXCEL CORP
		STREET 2:		281 TRESSER BLVD
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEXCEL CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000717605
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ABRASIVE ASBESTOS & MISC NONMETALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS [3290]
		IRS NUMBER:				941109521
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO STAMFORD PLAZA
		STREET 2:		281 TRESSER BLVD., 16TH FLOOR
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-969-0666

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO STAMFORD PLAZA
		STREET 2:		281 TRESSER BLVD., 16TH FLOOR
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000717605</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEXCEL CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HXL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001235215</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHAULSON JOSEPH H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HEXCEL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>281 TRESSER BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06901</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Reinforcements</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3987</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-01-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3987</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3987</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) granted under the Hexcel Corporation Management Stock Purchase Plan (&quot;MSPP&quot;) in a transaction exempt under Section 16b.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">RSUs granted under the MSPP vest in equal installments on the first three anniversaries of the grant date and convert into an equal number of shares of common stock on the third anniversary of the grant date. Vesting and conversion are subject to certain acceleration and termination provisions.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The RSUs were awarded to the grantee in lieu of a portion of the grantee's 2003 bonus equal to the product obtained by multiplying the number of RSUs granted times $6.57 (80% of the average closing price of Hexcel common stock for the five trading days immediately preceding the date of grant), in accordance with the terms of the MSPP.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Joseph H. Shaulson by Seth L. Kaplan, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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