<PAGE>

   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2000
                                                 REGISTRATION NO. 333-__________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             -----------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             -----------------------

                               HEXCEL CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                 DELAWARE                         94-1109521
      (State or Other Jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer
       Incorporation or Organization)          Identification No.)

                          ----------------------------

                               TWO STAMFORD PLAZA
                              281 TRESSER BOULEVARD
                           STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                             -----------------------

            HEXCEL CORPORATION 1998 BROAD BASED INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                             -----------------------

                              IRA J. KRAKOWER, ESQ.
              SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
                               HEXCEL CORPORATION
                               TWO STAMFORD PLAZA
                              281 TRESSER BOULEVARD
                           STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901
                                 (203) 969-0666
 (Name, Address and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                            COPIES TO: KIRK FORBECK
                            CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER
                               HEXCEL CORPORATION
                               11711 DUBLIN BLVD.
                            DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA 94568
                                 (925) 551-4900

                             -----------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

======================== ====================== ====================== ====================== ======================
       Title of              Amount to be         Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum           Amount of
   Securities to be         Registered (1)         Offering Price            Aggregate          Registration Fee
      Registered                                    Per Share(2)         Offering Price(2)
------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------

<S>                      <C>                    <C>                    <C>                    <C>

Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share        275,000                $13.63               $3,748,250                $990

======================== ====================== ====================== ====================== ======================

</TABLE>


(1)      This registration statement (this "Registration Statement") covers
         additional shares of Common Stock of Hexcel Corporation (the
         "Registrant") which may be offered or sold from time to time pursuant
         to the Hexcel Corporation 1998 Broad Based Incentive Stock Plan (as
         amended, the "Plan"). By virtue of an amendment to the Plan, the number
         of shares issuable thereunder was increased by 275,000 shares. Pursuant
         to Rule 416, this Registration Statement also covers such
         indeterminable number of additional shares of the Registrant's Common
         Stock as may be issuable pursuant to the antidilution provisions of the
         Plan.

(2)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
         The aggregate offering price has been computed pursuant to Rules 457(c)
         and 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended on
         the basis of the average of the high and low sale prices of the
         Registrant's Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange
         Composite Tape on September 19, 2000, within five business days prior
         to filing.


<PAGE>



                  The Registrant has previously registered 500,000 shares of its
Common Stock, $0.01 par value, issuable under the Hexcel Corporation 1998 Broad
Based Incentive Stock Plan (as amended, the "Plan"). This Registration Statement
is being filed pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8 to register an
additional 275,000 shares issuable under the Plan. The Registrant hereby
incorporates by reference Registrant's previous Form S-8 Registration Statement
(File No. 333-57223) relating to the Plan, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on June 19, 1998.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

                  4.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                           Registrant dated June 3, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 1 to
                           the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
                           dated July 9, 1996 and incorporated herein by
                           reference).

                  4.2      Restated By-laws of the Registrant dated May 23, 1996
                           (filed as Exhibit 2 to the Registrant's Registration
                           Statement on Form 8-A dated July 9, 1996 and
                           incorporated herein by reference).

                  4.3      Hexcel Corporation 1998 Broad Based Incentive Stock
                           Plan, as amended February 3, 2000 (filed as Exhibit
                           10.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form
                           10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000).

                  5.1      Opinion of Ira J. Krakower, General Counsel of Hexcel
                           Corporation, regarding legality of Common Stock
                           covered by this Registration Statement.

                  99.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

                  99.2     Consent of Ira J. Krakower (included in Exhibit 5.1).

                  24.1     Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of
                           this Registration Statement).

                  99.1     Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No.
                           333-57223, relating to the Hexcel Corporation 1998
                           Broad Based Incentive Stock Plan (incorporated herein
                           by reference to Registrant's Form S-8 Registration
                           Statement, Registration No. 333-57223, dated June 19,
                           1998).

                  99.2     Strategic Alliance Agreement dated as of September
                           29, 1995 among Hexcel Corporation, Ciba-Geigy Limited
                           and Ciba-Geigy Corporation (incorporated herein by
                           reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's current
                           report on Form 8-K dated as of October 13, 1995).


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Stamford, State of Connecticut, on the 22nd day of
September, 2000.

                                       HEXCEL CORPORATION
                                       (Registrant)

                                       By:      /s/ IRA J. KRAKOWER
                                       Ira J. Krakower
                                       Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                       and Secretary

                  KNOWN TO ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ira J. Krakower, his
attorney-in-fact, with the power of substitution, for him in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to this registration statement (including
post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or
his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


<PAGE>


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in all capacities and
on the dates indicated.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                       DATE

<S>                                        <C>                                        <C>

/s/ JOHN J. LEE                             Chief Executive Officer; Director           September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
John J. Lee

/s/ HAROLD E. KINNE                         President; Chief Operating Officer;         September 22, 2000
-----------------------------               Director
Harold E. Kinne

/s/ STEPHEN C. FORSYTH                      Executive Vice President; Chief             September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Stephen C. Forsyth                          Financial Officer

/s/ KIRK FORBECK                            Controller; Principal Accounting            September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Kirk Forbeck                                Officer

/s/ ROBERT S. EVANS                         Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Robert S. Evans

/s/ MARSHALL S. GELLER                      Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Marshall S. Geller

/s/ WALTER D. HOSP                          Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Walter D. Hosp

/s/ JOHN J. MCGRAW                          Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
John J. McGraw

/s/ MARTIN RIEDIKER                         Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Martin Riediker

/s/ LEWIS RUBIN                             Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Lewis Rubin

/s/ MARTIN SOLOMON                          Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Martin Solomon


</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT

4.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant dated June 3,
         1996 (filed as Exhibit 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
         Form 8-A dated July 9, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.2      Restated By-laws of the Registrant dated May 23, 1996 (filed as Exhibit
         2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated July 9,
         1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.3      Hexcel Corporation 1998 Broad Based Incentive Stock Plan, as amended
         February 3, 2000 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly
         Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000).

5.1      Opinion of Ira J. Krakower, General Counsel of Hexcel Corporation,
         regarding legality of Common Stock covered by this Registration
         Statement.

99.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

99.2     Consent of Ira J. Krakower (included in Exhibit 5.1).

99.1     Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration
         Statement).

99.1     Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-57223,
         relating to the Hexcel Corporation 1998 Broad Based Incentive Stock
         Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Registrant's Form S-8
         Registration Statement, Registration No. 333-57223, dated June 19,
         1998).

99.2     Strategic Alliance Agreement dated as of September 29, 1995 among
         Hexcel Corporation, Ciba-Geigy Limited and Ciba-Geigy Corporation
         (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's
         current report on Form 8-K dated as of October 13, 1995).
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "a2026361zs-8.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 12770}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "HEXCEL CORP /DE/", "cik": "0000717605", "assigned-sic": "3460", "irs-number": "941109521", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-46472", "film-number": "727569"}, "business-address": {"street1": "281 TRESSER BOULEVARD", "street2": "TWO STAMFORD PLZ", "city": "STAMFORD", "state": "CT", "zip": "06901", "phone": "2039690666"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "281 TRESSER BLVD.", "street2": "TWO STAMFORD PLAZA, 16TH FLOOR", "city": "STAMFORD", "state": "CT", "zip": "06901-8781"}}
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2000
                                                 REGISTRATION NO. 333-__________

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                             -----------------------
                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             -----------------------

                               HEXCEL CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                 DELAWARE                         94-1109521
      (State or Other Jurisdiction of          (I.R.S. Employer
       Incorporation or Organization)          Identification No.)

                          ----------------------------

                               TWO STAMFORD PLAZA
                              281 TRESSER BOULEVARD
                           STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

                             -----------------------

            HEXCEL CORPORATION 1998 BROAD BASED INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                             -----------------------

                              IRA J. KRAKOWER, ESQ.
              SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
                               HEXCEL CORPORATION
                               TWO STAMFORD PLAZA
                              281 TRESSER BOULEVARD
                           STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901
                                 (203) 969-0666
 (Name, Address and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                            COPIES TO: KIRK FORBECK
                            CHIEF ACCOUNTING OFFICER
                               HEXCEL CORPORATION
                               11711 DUBLIN BLVD.
                            DUBLIN, CALIFORNIA 94568
                                 (925) 551-4900

                             -----------------------

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
======================== ====================== ====================== ====================== ======================
       Title of              Amount to be         Proposed Maximum       Proposed Maximum           Amount of
   Securities to be         Registered (1)         Offering Price            Aggregate          Registration Fee
      Registered                                    Per Share(2)         Offering Price(2)
------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
------------------------ ---------------------- ---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Common Stock, par
value $0.01 per share        275,000                $13.63               $3,748,250                $990

======================== ====================== ====================== ====================== ======================
(1)      This registration statement (this "Registration Statement") covers
         additional shares of Common Stock of Hexcel Corporation (the
         "Registrant") which may be offered or sold from time to time pursuant
         to the Hexcel Corporation 1998 Broad Based Incentive Stock Plan (as
         amended, the "Plan"). By virtue of an amendment to the Plan, the number
         of shares issuable thereunder was increased by 275,000 shares. Pursuant
         to Rule 416, this Registration Statement also covers such
         indeterminable number of additional shares of the Registrant's Common
         Stock as may be issuable pursuant to the antidilution provisions of the
         Plan.

(2)      Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
         The aggregate offering price has been computed pursuant to Rules 457(c)
         and 457(h) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended on
         the basis of the average of the high and low sale prices of the
         Registrant's Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange
         Composite Tape on September 19, 2000, within five business days prior
         to filing.
The Registrant has previously registered 500,000 shares of its
Common Stock, $0.01 par value, issuable under the Hexcel Corporation 1998 Broad
Based Incentive Stock Plan (as amended, the "Plan"). This Registration Statement
is being filed pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8 to register an
additional 275,000 shares issuable under the Plan. The Registrant hereby
incorporates by reference Registrant's previous Form S-8 Registration Statement
(File No. 333-57223) relating to the Plan, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on June 19, 1998.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

                  4.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                           Registrant dated June 3, 1996 (filed as Exhibit 1 to
                           the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A
                           dated July 9, 1996 and incorporated herein by
                           reference).

                  4.2      Restated By-laws of the Registrant dated May 23, 1996
                           (filed as Exhibit 2 to the Registrant's Registration
                           Statement on Form 8-A dated July 9, 1996 and
                           incorporated herein by reference).

                  4.3      Hexcel Corporation 1998 Broad Based Incentive Stock
                           Plan, as amended February 3, 2000 (filed as Exhibit
                           10.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form
                           10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000).

                  5.1      Opinion of Ira J. Krakower, General Counsel of Hexcel
                           Corporation, regarding legality of Common Stock
                           covered by this Registration Statement.

                  99.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

                  99.2     Consent of Ira J. Krakower (included in Exhibit 5.1).

                  24.1     Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of
                           this Registration Statement).

                  99.1     Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No.
                           333-57223, relating to the Hexcel Corporation 1998
                           Broad Based Incentive Stock Plan (incorporated herein
                           by reference to Registrant's Form S-8 Registration
                           Statement, Registration No. 333-57223, dated June 19,
                           1998).

                  99.2     Strategic Alliance Agreement dated as of September
                           29, 1995 among Hexcel Corporation, Ciba-Geigy Limited
                           and Ciba-Geigy Corporation (incorporated herein by
                           reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's current
                           report on Form 8-K dated as of October 13, 1995).
SIGNATURES

                  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Stamford, State of Connecticut, on the 22nd day of
September, 2000.

                                       HEXCEL CORPORATION
                                       (Registrant)

                                       By:      /s/ IRA J. KRAKOWER
                                       Ira J. Krakower
                                       Senior Vice President, General Counsel
                                       and Secretary

                  KNOWN TO ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ira J. Krakower, his
attorney-in-fact, with the power of substitution, for him in any and all
capacities, to sign any amendments to this registration statement (including
post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or
his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in all capacities and
on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                                       DATE
/s/ JOHN J. LEE                             Chief Executive Officer; Director           September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
John J. Lee

/s/ HAROLD E. KINNE                         President; Chief Operating Officer;         September 22, 2000
-----------------------------               Director
Harold E. Kinne

/s/ STEPHEN C. FORSYTH                      Executive Vice President; Chief             September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Stephen C. Forsyth                          Financial Officer

/s/ KIRK FORBECK                            Controller; Principal Accounting            September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Kirk Forbeck                                Officer

/s/ ROBERT S. EVANS                         Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Robert S. Evans

/s/ MARSHALL S. GELLER                      Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Marshall S. Geller

/s/ WALTER D. HOSP                          Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Walter D. Hosp

/s/ JOHN J. MCGRAW                          Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
John J. McGraw

/s/ MARTIN RIEDIKER                         Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Martin Riediker

/s/ LEWIS RUBIN                             Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Lewis Rubin

/s/ MARTIN SOLOMON                          Director                                    September 22, 2000
-----------------------------
Martin Solomon
EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT

4.1      Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant dated June 3,
         1996 (filed as Exhibit 1 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
         Form 8-A dated July 9, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.2      Restated By-laws of the Registrant dated May 23, 1996 (filed as Exhibit
         2 to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated July 9,
         1996 and incorporated herein by reference).

4.3      Hexcel Corporation 1998 Broad Based Incentive Stock Plan, as amended
         February 3, 2000 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly
         Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000).

5.1      Opinion of Ira J. Krakower, General Counsel of Hexcel Corporation,
         regarding legality of Common Stock covered by this Registration
         Statement.

99.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

99.2     Consent of Ira J. Krakower (included in Exhibit 5.1).

99.1     Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration
         Statement).

99.1     Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-57223,
         relating to the Hexcel Corporation 1998 Broad Based Incentive Stock
         Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Registrant's Form S-8
         Registration Statement, Registration No. 333-57223, dated June 19,
         1998).

99.2     Strategic Alliance Agreement dated as of September 29, 1995 among
         Hexcel Corporation, Ciba-Geigy Limited and Ciba-Geigy Corporation
         (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's
         current report on Form 8-K dated as of October 13, 1995).