Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude; Deviation - Speed All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Unstabilized Approach; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification
Human Factors; Aircraft; Procedure
Accomplished go-around below 1000 feet due to aircraft spacing created by approach and tailwind; which resulted in an unstable approach. Subsequent approach uneventful.We were asked by ATC to slow to 160 knots on final. This was because of an aircraft 2.5-3 miles in front of us. We also had a 30-knot tailwind. We were using full automation and aircraft was not able to maintain 160 knots with flaps at configuration 2. In addition to the tailwind; the Autothrottles was actually increasing at a time that it should have been decreasing because of the increased speed. The increase in thrust could often be contributed to not being in the approach phase...but this was not the case. We were in fact in the approach phase. The First Officer disconnected Autopilot and Autothrottles and lowered the gear and flaps prior to 1000 feet. The airplane was above the Glideslope below 1000 feet. This resulted in an unstable approach in attempting to 'catch' the Glideslope. We conducted a go around at approximately 750 feet.As a result of the 30-knot tailwind; we should have lowered the gear further out to help maintain the speed. However; it is unclear as to why the Autothrottles was increasing at a time that it should have been decreasing to lower the speed.
Visual approach 37-knot tailwind and an aircraft placed 2.5 miles in front of slowed to 160kts by ATC. Autopilot was unable to maintain glide path with tailwind /160kts/ CONFIG 2/ in the APCH MODE (approach mode) pitch was causing airspeed to increase when Autothrottles began to increase thrust for an undetermined reason; worsening the situation.
A319 flight crew reported executing a go-around due to an unstable approach resulting from inadequate spacing and 30-knot tailwind.