-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Uvcpl7UIL7grNx4M7j0xG3QFYHlabO4FbtWpoTI35CuURPCJgwqgLr7ZGbcJBEah
 jejfwk8UOLbS55qTr/47hg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-053992.txt : 20041118
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-053992.hdr.sgml : 20041118
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041118170619
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-053992
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041118
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041118

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMALL ROBERT J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001234544

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08472
		FILM NUMBER:		041155562

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BERKSHIRE PARTNERS
		STREET 2:		ONE INTERNATIONAL PLACE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02108

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>rrd58540.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001234544</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMALL ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BERKSHIRE PARTNERS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE BOSTON PLACE, SUITE 3300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1590</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1590</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Consists of Restricted Stock Units (&quot;RSUs&quot;), commonly referred to as &quot;phantom stock,&quot; granted under the Hexcel Corporation 2003 Incentive Stock Plan. The RSUs vest in three equal installments on the grant date (November 16, 2004) and on the first and second anniversaries of the grant date and convert into an equal number of shares of common stock on the second anniversary of the grant date, unless the grantee elects to defer conversion until such time as the grantee ceases to be a director of Hexcel Corporation.  Vesting and conversion are subject to certain acceleration and termination provisions.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These RSUs were granted to the Reporting Person, a managing director of Berkshire Partners LLC, in his capacity as a director of the issuer.  Pursuant to an agreement between the Reporting Person and Berkshire Partners LLC(&quot;Berkshire&quot;), Berkshire has an economic interest in these options.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of such options except to the extent of his pecuniary interest, if any.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert J. Small</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----