<Page>

                                                                 Exhibit 10.1(h)

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY

                                 FIFTH AMENDMENT

         FIFTH AMENDMENT, dated as of May 11, 2001 (this "AMENDMENT"), to the
Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 15, 1998 (as
amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the "CREDIT
AGREEMENT"), among Hexcel Corporation (the "COMPANY") and the Foreign Borrowers
from time to time party thereto (together with the Company, the "BORROWERS"),
the banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties thereto
(the "LENDERS"), Citibank, N.A., as Documentation Agent, and Credit Suisse First
Boston, as Administrative Agent (the "ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              - - - - - - - - - -


         WHEREAS, pursuant to the Credit Agreement, the Lenders have agreed to
make, and have made, certain loans and other extensions of credit to the
Borrowers; and

         WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested, and, upon this Amendment
becoming effective, the Lenders shall have agreed, that certain provisions of
the Credit Agreement be amended in the manner provided for in this Amendment.

         NOW, THEREFORE, for valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, and in consideration of the premises and
mutual agreements contained herein, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

                            SECTION 1. DEFINED TERMS


         DEFINED TERMS. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used
herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Credit Agreement.


                             SECTION 2. AMENDMENTS


         2.1.  AMENDMENT TO SUBSECTION 1.1. Subsection 1.1 of the Credit
Agreement is hereby amended:

                  (a) by adding at the end of the definition of "EBITDA" the
following:

                  "; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in any computation of EBITDA for
         the second quarter of the Borrower's 2001 fiscal year (or for any four
         quarter period which includes such quarter) up to $5,000,000 in
         compensation-related expenses reflected in the Company's consolidated
         income statement for such quarter that are associated with the
         retirement by reason of disability of Mr. John J. Lee may be
         disregarded"

                  (b) for and during the period from the Effective Date (as
defined below) to and including the date upon which the Administrative Agent
receives the financial statements and compliance certificate required to be
delivered with respect to the second fiscal quarter of 2002

<Page>
                                                                               2


pursuant to subsections 13.1 and 13.2 of the Credit Agreement, by replacing in
its entirety the table of Leverage Ratios and Applicable Margins contained in
the definition of "Applicable Margin" with the following new table:

<Table>
<Caption>
=============================================================================================================
                                                                    Applicable Margin
                                             ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     Tranche A Loans
                                                  Revolving Credit Loans
                                                     Swing Line Loans
                                                 European Revolving Loans              Tranche B Loans
                                             -------------------------------    -----------------------------
             Leverage Ratio                    Eurocurrency                       Euro-currency     ABR
                                                   Loans         ABR Loans            Loans        Loans
------------------------------------------   -------------------------------    -----------------------------
<S>                                              <C>              <C>               <C>           <C>
  Greater than or equal to 5.0 to 1.0            275 b.p.         175 b.p.          325 b.p.      225 b.p.
  Greater than or equal to 4.5 to 1.0,           250 b.p.         150 b.p.          300 b.p.      200 b.p.
        but less than 5.0 to 1.0
  Greater than or equal to 4.0 to 1.0,           225 b.p.         125 b.p.          275 b.p.      175 b.p.
        but less than 4.5 to 1.0
  Greater than or equal to 3.5 to 1.0,           200 b.p.         100 b.p.          275 b.p.      175 b.p.
        but less than 4.0 to 1.0
  Greater than or equal to 3.0 to 1.0,           150 b.p.         50 b.p.           225 b.p.      125 b.p.
        but less than 3.5 to 1.0
  Greater than or equal to 2.5 to 1.0,          112.5 b.p.        25 b.p.           200 b.p.      100 b.p.
        but less than 3.0 to 1.0
          Less than 2.5 to 1.0                   100 b.p.         25 b.p.           200 b.p.      100 b.p.
=============================================================================================================
</Table>


                  (c) by deleting "$30,000,000" where it appears in the
definition of "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" and by inserting, in lieu thereof,
"$20,000,000".

                  (d) by deleting "14.8(j)" where it appears in the definition
of "Investment" and by inserting, in lieu thereof, "14.8(k)".

         2.2.     AMENDMENT TO SUBSECTION 14.1(A). Subsection 14.1(a) is hereby
amended by deleting such subsection in its entirety and by substituting therefor
the following:

                  (a) MINIMUM INTEREST COVERAGE RATIO. Permit the Interest
         Coverage Ratio of the Company and its Subsidiaries on the last day of
         any fiscal quarter of the Company occurring during a period set forth
         below to be less than the ratio set forth opposite such period:


<Page>
                                                                               3


<Table>
<Caption>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Period                                  Ratio
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                         <C>
          January 1, 2000 - March 31, 2000                  1.80 to 1.0
           April 1, 2000 - June 30, 2000                    1.80 to 1.0
         July 1, 2000 - September 30, 2000                  1.80 to 1.0
        October 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000                 1.85 to 1.0
          January 1, 2001 - March 31, 2001                  2.25 to 1.0
           April 1, 2001 - June 30, 2001                    2.10 to 1.0
         July 1, 2001 - September 30, 2001                  2.10 to 1.0
        October 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001                 2.15 to 1.0
          January 1, 2002 - March 31, 2002                  2.20 to 1.0
           April 1, 2002 - June 30, 2002                    2.25 to 1.0
             July 1, 2002 - Thereafter                      2.50 to 1.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
</Table>

         2.3.     AMENDMENT TO SUBSECTION 14.1(B). Subsection 14.1(b) of the
Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting such subsection in its entirety
and by substituting therefor the following:

                  (b) MAXIMUM LEVERAGE RATIO. Permit the Leverage Ratio of the
         Company and its Subsidiaries on the last day of any fiscal quarter of
         the Company occurring during a period set forth below to be greater
         than the ratio set forth opposite such period:

<Table>
<Caption>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Period                                  Ratio
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                         <C>
          January 1, 2000 - March 31, 2000                  6.15 to 1.0
           April 1, 2000 - June 30, 2000                    6.15 to 1.0
         July 1, 2000 - September 30, 2000                  6.15 to 1.0
        October 1, 2000 - December 31, 2000                 5.75 to 1.0
          January 1, 2001 - March 31, 2001                  5.00 to 1.0
           April 1, 2001 - June 30, 2001                    5.25 to 1.0
         July 1, 2001 - September 30, 2001                  5.25 to 1.0
        October 1, 2001 - December 31, 2001                 5.25 to 1.0
          January 1, 2002 - March 31, 2002                  5.00 to 1.0
           April 1, 2002 - June 30, 2002                    4.75 to 1.0
             July 1, 2002 - Thereafter                      4.50 to 1.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
</Table>


         2.4. AMENDMENT TO SUBSECTION 14.8(K). For and during the period from
the Effective Date (as defined below) to and including June 30, 2002 only,
subsection 14.8(k) of the Credit

<Page>
                                                                               4


Agreement is hereby amended by replacing clause (i) in its entirety with the
following new clause (i):

                  "(i) the aggregate amount of all Investments (with the amount
         of any Guarantee Obligations being deemed to be the amount so
         guaranteed) made by the Company and its Subsidiaries in reliance upon
         the provisions of this subsection 14.8(k) does not exceed $50,000,000"
         and

                            SECTION 3. MISCELLANEOUS

         3.1. CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS AMENDMENT. This Amendment
shall become effective (as of the date first set forth above) on the date (the
"EFFECTIVE DATE") upon which (a)the Administrative Agent shall have received
counterparts hereof, duly executed and delivered by each Borrower, the
Documentation Agent, the Administrative Agent, each Subsidiary Guarantor and the
Majority Lenders and (b) the Amendment Fee specified in Section 3.4 of this
Amendment shall have been paid.

         3.2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company, as of the date hereof
after giving effect to the amendments contained herein, hereby confirms,
reaffirms and restates the representations and warranties made by it and each
Foreign Borrower in Subsection 11 of the Credit Agreement and otherwise in the
Credit Documents to which it is a party; PROVIDED that each reference to the
Credit Agreement therein shall be deemed to be a reference to the Credit
Agreement after giving effect to this Amendment.

         3.3. LIMITED EFFECT. The execution, delivery and effectiveness of this
Amendment shall not, except as expressly provided herein, operate as a waiver of
any right, power or remedy of any Lender or the Administrative Agent under any
of the Credit Documents, nor constitute a waiver or amendment of any provisions
of any of the Credit Documents. Except as expressly modified herein, all of the
provisions and covenants of the Credit Agreement and the other Credit Documents
are and shall continue to remain in full force and effect in accordance with the
terms thereof and are hereby in all respects ratified and confirmed.

         3.4. AMENDMENT FEE. The Company shall pay to the Administrative Agent,
for the account of each Lender executing this Amendment on or before May 11,
2001, an amendment fee (the "AMENDMENT FEE") equal to 25 b.p. of each such
Lender's applicable (i) Commitment, in the case of Revolving Credit Commitment,
European Loan Commitment or European Overdraft Commitment and (ii) outstanding
Loans, in the case of Tranche A Loans and Tranche B Loans. Such Amendment Fee
shall be calculated immediately prior to the effectiveness of this Amendment and
shall be payable on the Effective Date.

         3.5. COUNTERPARTS. This Amendment may be executed by one or more of the
parties hereto in any number of separate counterparts (which may include
counterparts delivered by facsimile transmission), and all of said counterparts
taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument. Any
executed counterpart delivered by facsimile transmission shall be effective as
for all purposes hereof.

<Page>
                                                                               5


         3.6. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AMENDMENT AND THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF
THE PARTIES HEREUNDER SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.



                                  (End of Page)



<Page>
                                                                               6



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be
duly executed and delivered by their respective proper and duly authorized
officers as of the day and year first above written.


                                            HEXCEL CORPORATION
                                            HEXCEL COMPOSITES S.A. (Belgium)
                                            HEXCEL (U.K.) LIMITED
                                            HEXCEL COMPOSITES S.A. (France)
                                            HEXCEL COMPOSITES LIMITED
                                            HEXCEL COMPOSITES GMBH (Austria)
                                            HEXCEL S.A. (France)
                                            HEXCEL COMPOSITES, S.A. (Spain)
                                            HEXCEL FABRICS S.A.
                                            HEXCEL COMPOSITES GMBH (Germany)
                                            HEXCEL HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED

                                            By:_________________________
                                               Name:
                                               Title:



<Page>
                                                                               7

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, as
Administrative Agent and Lead Arranger

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


CITIBANK, N.A., as Documentation Agent
and as a Lender

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


ARCHIMEDES FUNDING II, Ltd.
    By:  ING CAPITAL ADVISORS LLC, as
         Collateral Manager

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, as a
Lender

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:



AERIES FINANCE II LTD.
    By: INVESCO SENIOR SECURED
        MANAGEMENT, INC., as Sub-
        Managing Agent

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


AMARA 2 FINANCE, LTD.
    By: INVESCO SENIOR SECURED
        MANAGEMENT, INC., as Sub-Adviser

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


THE BANK OF NEW YORK

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


BANK ONE, NA

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


BANQUE NATIONALE DE PARIS

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


<Page>
                                                                               8



BANQUE WORMS CAPITAL
CORPORATION

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


BATTERSON PARK CBO 1
    By:  GENERAL RE - NEW ENGLAND ASSET
         MANAGEMENT, INC., as Collateral
         Manager

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


CHAIO TUNG BANK CO., NEW YORK
AGENCY

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


CREDIT AGRICOLE INDOSUEZ

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


CAPTIVA II FINANCE LTD.

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


CERES FINANCE LTD.
    By:  INVESCO SENIOR SECURED
         MANAGEMENT INC., as Sub-
         Managing Agent


By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


CREDIT LYONNAIS NEW YORK
BRANCH

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


CYPRESSTREE SENIOR FLOATING
RATE FUND
    By:  CYPRESSTREE INVESTMENT
         MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC., as
         Portfolio Manager

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


<Page>
                                                                               9


CYPRESSTREE INVESTMENT
PARTNERS I, LTD.
    BY:  CYPRESSTREE INVESTMENT
         MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC., as
         Portfolio Manager

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


CYPRESSTREE INVESTMENT
PARTNERS II, LTD.
    BY:  CYPRESSTREE INVESTMENT
         MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC., as
         Portfolio Manager

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK
BRANCH AND/OR CAYMAN ISLANDS
BRANCH

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


EATON VANCE CDO III LTD.
    By:  EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT, as
           Investment Advisor

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


EATON VANCE INST. SENIOR LOAN
FUND
    By:  EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT, as
         Investment Advisor

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


EATON VANCE SENIOR INCOME
TRUST
    By:  EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT, as
         Investment Advisor

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


ERSTE BANK

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title::


FIRST UNION NATIONAL BANK

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


<Page>
                                                                              10


GALAXY CLO 1999-1, LTD.

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL
CORPORATION

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


GRAYSTON & CO.

By: ________________________________
       Name:
       Title:


GRAYSTON CLO 2001-01 LTD.

By:  _______________________________
        Name:
         Title:


THE INDUSTRIAL BANK OF JAPAN,
LIMITED, NEW YORK BRANCH

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


KATONAH I LTD.

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


KZH CYPRESSTREE-1 LLC

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


KZH ING-2 LLC

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


KZH ING-3 LLC

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


KZH SOLEIL 2 LLC

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:
           ------------------------------------------
      Title:


<Page>
                                                                              11


KZH WATERSIDE LLC

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


MERITA BANK Plc

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title::


MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST
COMPANY OF NEW YORK

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


NORTH AMERICAN SENIOR
FLOATING RATE FUND
    BY:  CYPRESSTREE INVESTMENT
         MANAGEMENT COMPANY, INC., as
         Portfolio Manager

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


OXFORD STRATEGIC INCOME FUND
    By:  EATON VANCE MANAGEMENT, as
         Investment Advisor

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


SENIOR DEBT PORTFOLIO
    By:  BOSTON MANAGEMENT AND
         RESEARCH, as Investment Advisor

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


SOCIETE GENERALE

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title::


STRATA FUNDING, LTD.
    By: INVESCO SENIOR SECURED
        MANAGEMENT, INC., as Sub-
        Managing Agent

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A.

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


<Page>
                                                                              12


VAN KAMPEN SENIOR FLOATING
RATE FUND
    BY: VAN KAMPAN INVESTMENT
        ADVISORY CORP.

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:


WACHOVIA BANK, N.A.

By:
    -------------------------------------------------
     Name:
     Title:






<Page>

         The undersigned Subsidiary Guarantors do hereby consent and agree to
the execution and delivery of this Amendment:


                                     HEXCEL INTERNATIONAL
                                     HEXCEL OMEGA CORPORATION
                                     HEXCEL BETA CORP.
                                     CLARK-SCHWEBEL HOLDING CORP.
                                     CLARK-SCHWEBEL CORPORATION
                                     CS TECH-FAB HOLDING, INC.

                                     By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         Name:
                                         Title: