Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 25; Flight Crew Total 520; Flight Crew Type 250
Confusion; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Communication Breakdown
Airspace Violation All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Airspace Structure; Human Factors; Procedure
Departed CNO.  Requested flight following prior to takeoff; was given beacon code.  VFR route of flight was direct EMT ; then direct SMO at a cruise of 2500 MSL.  After takeoff; CNO tower switched me to SoCal who switched me to EMT tower as I entered their airspace.  This is where the trouble started.  I've been flying in the system for 10 years; with much of that time in constant communication with ATC.  I have never encountered a more monotone; fast speaking controller than I did on the tower frequency at EMT that afternoon.  If I were a student pilot; I would have been extremely flustered and confused.  I don't believe it was even a matter of having an extraordinary amount of aircraft in her airspace as there was plenty of idle time in between transmissions.  In a nutshell; as what happens often with VFR pilots; she forgot about me and failed to hand me off to another SoCal frequency as I left EMT Class D.  When I inquired; she simply told me to squawk VFR.  At that time; I told her I was on flight following with a beacon code and requested the next frequency.  She came back just as I was about to input the frequency from a chart.  All the while; I descended from 2500 to 2300MSL to avoid busting LAX Class Bravo bottom of 2500MSL.  I don't believe I busted the LAX Class Bravo airspace; but I am well aware and take many precautions to avoid any instances of being close.  I would just like to EMT tower controller to be made aware of her very fast speech while on frequency.
Pilot reports of possibly violating LAX Class Bravo.