-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Io+46vmS6trJ9NwBlZzQyA1HNS6rMa2TcZAwnuS6bhLapeo6v3ZECpiPXPJjNap2
 r1zHLOpZ+Z5QIUCeX0Hc5w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-07-009733.txt : 20070511
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-07-009733.hdr.sgml : 20070511
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070511112255
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-07-009733
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070510
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070511
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070511

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEXCEL CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000717605
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS, MATERIALS, SYNTH RESINS & NONVULCAN ELASTOMERS [2821]
		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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOSTER W KIM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001219806

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08472
		FILM NUMBER:		07840690

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FMC CORP
		STREET 2:		1735 MARKET ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 3 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-05-10</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001219806</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOSTER W KIM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>281 TRESSER BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>16TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06901</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No securities are beneficially owned</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ W. Kim Foster by Seth L. Kaplan, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-05-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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