SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                         April 22, 2004 (April 21, 2004)
                     --------------------------------------
                Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)

                               Hexcel Corporation
                   -------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


      Delaware                        1-8472                     94-1109521
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State of Incorporation)       (Commission File No.)        (IRS Employer
                                                             Identification No.)


                               Two Stamford Plaza
                              281 Tresser Boulevard
                        Stamford, Connecticut 06901-3238
              -----------------------------------------------------
              (Address of Principal Executive Offices and Zip Code)


                                 (203) 969-0666
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                       N/A
          -------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)








Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
         -------------------------------------------------------------------

   (c)   Exhibits

         99.1 Press Release issued by the Company on April 21, 2004.


Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure.
         -------------------------

         The information contained in Item 12 of this report is incorporated by
         reference into this Item 9.


Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
         ---------------------------------------------

         On April 21, 2004, Hexcel Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
         "Company"), issued a press release in which the Company announced its
         financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended March 31, 2004. A
         copy of this earnings press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1
         and is incorporated herein by reference.

         In accordance with General Instructions B.2 and B.6. of Form 8-K and
         Securities and Exchange Commission Release No. 33-8176, the
         information disclosed pursuant to Items 9 and 12 is not deemed "filed"
         for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
         as amended, is not subject to the liabilities of that section and is
         not deemed incorporated by reference into any filing with the
         Securities and Exchange Commission, except as shall be expressly set
         forth by specific reference in any such filing.



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                                    Signature

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                                     HEXCEL CORPORATION

         April 22, 2004
                                                      /s/ William J. Fazio
                                                     ---------------------------
                                                          William J. Fazio
                                                       Corporate Controller and
                                                       Chief Accounting Officer




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                                  Exhibit Index


Exhibit No.      Description
-----------      -----------

99.1             Press Release issued by the Company on April 21, 2004.