Ricky Schroder says he never, ever EVER assaulted a female airport worker at LAX this week ... and tells TMZ the only thing he's guilty of doing ... is hurting her feelings.

The former "Silver Spoons" actor was getting ready to board a train at Union Station in D.C. moments ago when we asked about the allegations he roughed up a ticket checker while trying to get to his gate at LAX on Monday.

Schroder was adamant ... he didn't assault anyone and called the whole thing a "complete misunderstanding."

Still, Schroder seems to acknowledge there was contact between the two during a hurried and frantic exchange ... telling us, "My phone dropped and I went to grab it .. and that's what happened.'

The actor also directed a few words towards his accuser -- saying, "I apologize to you, Miss, if I hurt your feelings and I didn't mean to."

He added, "Sweetheart, god bless you ... and I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."

Former child actor Ricky Schroder -- famous for his role on the 80s sitcom "Silver Spoons" -- assaulted an LAX airport worker in the middle of a busy terminal this week ... all because she wouldn't let him board with 3 bags ... at least that's what the woman told police.

Law enforcement tells TMZ ... airport police were called to the scene early Monday morning following the alleged altercation.

The woman's story ... she was checking boarding passes when Ricky attempted to go through security with three bags ... when the limit is two.

The airport worker says Ricky then slapped her hand when she reached for his boarding pass.

When cops arrived, they interviewed both parties. No arrests were made and no report was taken.

Ricky's lawyer, Marty Singer, tells TMZ ... the woman was rude and confrontational when she told him he had too many bags.  Singer says the woman hit Ricky's hand and his phone went flying.  Ricky lunged to grab his phone and she screamed, "Assault!" 

Singer says there are independent witnesses to corroborate Ricky's story and if Ricky did what she said he would have been arrested.

TMZ obtained video of the scene moments after the confrontation ... in which the worker tells her side of the story.