Wirelock, in a response to md80fanatic, states:
i think you'll find that the opposite is the case. the md80 does in fact have flap actuators and slat actuators. if they hydraulic system is depressurised they will gravity extend
The preliminary investigation text reads, exactly:
(...)Al menos un pistón de uno de los actuadores de flap se encontraba extendido una distancia de unos 12cm(...)
Literally: 'at least a piston of one of the flap actuators was found extended for a distance of about 12cm'
Now, a piston is a piston... something related -in this context- with a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator. A geared system is a different thing... I don't know how the actuators of the MD80 really are, but the investigation mentions a piston...
XXXavier